The Genetically Modified Organisms (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

 

 

The Genetically Modified Organisms (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019


Proposed Negative
Laid on: 18 December 2018
Sift end date: 17 January 2019


This instrument will make necessary changes, which arise as a result of the UK leaving the European Union, to domestic legislation which ensures the regime for the control and marketing of Genetically Modified Organisms (‘GMO’) in Northern Ireland will continue to be operable when the UK leaves the EU.


This instrument amends our existing implementation of Directive 2001/18/EC of the  European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release  into the environment of GMOs and repeal Council Directive 90/220/EEC (“the  Deliberate Release Directive”) which specifies a framework of controls on the release  of GMOs Proposed releases require prior authorisation and this is subject to the GMO  in question passing a science - based assessment of its potential impact on human  health and the environment. Decisions on whether to approve GMO trial releases are delegated to Member States and regions within Member States. In the UK GMO trial decisions are devolved. Decisions on the release of GMOs for commercial marketing are taken collectively at EU level. In the specific case of GMO seeds for cultivation, the Directive provides discretionary provisions which allow Member States, or devolved governments within Member States, to block the cultivation of EU - approved seeds in their territory. 


The Directive is implemented in Northern Ireland by: 


This instrument also amends our domestic implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 1946/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003 on transboundary movements of genetically modified organisms, as implemented in Northern Ireland by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Transboundary Movements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005, regulates the export of GMOs from the EU to third (non - EU) countries. The key requirement is for the planned first export of a GMO intended for environmental release to be notified to the receiving country to obtain its approval before shipment. The Regulation implements the requirements of the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (to which both the EU and UK are each a Party). 

 

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