Last update: 31/07/2006

Deliberate releases

The deliberate release of genetically modified organisms is their emission in an unlimited environment. This release can be for experimental or commercial cultivation purposes (particularly for vegetables).
In Europe, experimentation in an unlimited environment started in 1991. Up to 2004, a total of 1,946 authorization requests were presented in the different member states for the deliberate release of GMOs in the environment for experimental purposes. This is described in the table that can be downloaded in pdf format.

As regards launching of GMOs on the market, the European Commission has authorized 30 GMO events, among which plants and products for human and animal consumption:

• 11 were authorized according to Directive 90/220/EEC (of which 8 were authorized also on the basis of Regulation 258/97);
• 8 were authorized according to Regulation (EC) 258/97 (of which 4 were authorized also on the basis of Regulation 1829/2003);
• 1 was authorized in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC;
• 10 on the basis of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003.

Out of these 30 authorizations, 23 of them are for human consumption. Currently, 7 authorization requests are being processed for the distribution of GMOs on the market. They are being evaluated in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC, and 8 have been transferred from Directive 2001/18/EC to Regulation (EC) 1829/2003.