. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/EEC/149
14 February 2002
(02-0763)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and
Consumer Protection
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for food or feed use, food and feed
containing, consisting of or produced from GMOs.  Regions or countries likely to be
affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Member States of the European
Communities and third countries exporting the products concerned to the EC.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document: COM(2001)425 final "Proposal for
a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically modified food
and feed" (40 pages).
5. Description of content: The proposal notified hereby lays down a centralized Community
framework procedure for safety assessment and authorization of genetically modified food
and feed (cf. products covered) as well as comprehensive labelling requirements for these
products. It repeals existing regulations and amends other regulations and directives.
A comprehensive overview of the practical implications of this proposal is provided in
Press Notice IP/01/1095 available at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh
Note:   This draft legislation has been also notified to the Agreement on Technical Barrier to
Trade (TBT) in notice G/TBT/N/EEC/6 (8 August 2001), G/TBT/N/EEC/7 (30 August
2001) and G/TBT/N/EEC/7/A dd.1 (31 October 2001).
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests.  Also, protection of the environment, consumer protection,
prevention of deceptive practices.
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations: This proposal takes account of the requirements
of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity as regards
importer obligations and notifications. This proposal also takes into account the ongoing
work within the Codex Alimentarius Commission.G/SPS/N/EEC/149
Page 2
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: COM(2001)425 final
Available in all Community languages.
9. Proposed date of adoption by the European Parliament and the Council:
December 2002
10. Proposed date of entry into force: on the 20th day following that of the publication of the
Regulation in the Official Journal of the EC / Proposed date of application:  6 months after
the date of publication of the Regulation.
11. Final date for comments:  28 February 2002
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [  X ] EC enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] EC enquiry point or
address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Information on Food policy available in  http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/index_en.html
The Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically
modified food and feed COM(2001)425 final is available at http://europa.eu.int/eur-
lex/en/com/index1.html  and is published in the Official Journal of the EC N° C304 E of
30.10.2001, p. 221.
English text: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/pdf/2001/en_501PC0425.pdf
Spanish text: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/es/com/pdf/2001/es_501PC0425.pdf
French text: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/fr/com/pdf/2001/fr_501PC0425.pdf