S.I. No. 332/1997 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Amendment) Regulations, 1997


S.I. No. 332 of 1997.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1997

The Minister for the Environment and Local Government, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 6 and 111 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (No. 7 of 1992), hereby makes the following Regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Genetically Modified Organisms (Amendment) Regulations, 1997.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on 30th day of July, 1997.

3. The Genetically Modified Organisms Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 345 of 1994 ), are hereby amended by the substitution for the Eighth Schedule thereto of the following Schedule:

"

ARTICLE 41

EIGHTH SCHEDULE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE CASE OF NOTIFICATIONS FOR PLACING ON THE MARKET

PART I

The following information shall be provided in the notification for placing on the market of products, in addition to the information contained in the Seventh Schedule:

1. name of the product and names of genetically modified organisms contained therein;

2. name of the manufacturer or distributor and address in the European Community;

3. specificity of the product, exact conditions of use including, when appropriate, the type of environment and/or the geographical area(s) of the European Community for which the product is suited;

4. type of expected use: industry, agriculture and skilled trades, consumer use by public at large; and

5. information relating to the introduced genetic modification which could be of relevance to the establishment of a possible register of modifications introduced in organisms (species). This may include nucleotide sequences or other type of information which is relevant to the inclusion in such a register.

PART II

The following information shall be provided, when relevant, in addition to that in Part I of this Schedule, in accordance with article 41:

1. measures to take in case of unintended release or misuse;

2. specific instructions or recommendations for storage and handling;

3. estimated production in and/or imports to the European Community;

4. proposed packaging. This must be appropriate so as to avoid unintended release of the genetically modified organisms during storage, or at a later stage;

5. proposed labelling. This must include, at least in summarised form, the information referred to in points 1, 2 and 3 of Part I of this Schedule, and points 1 and 2 of Part II of this Schedule.

PART III

The following information shall be provided in the notification, in accordance with article 41:

Proposed labelling. This must include in a label or an accompanying document an indication that the product contains, or consists of genetically modified organisms. In the case of products to be placed on the market in mixtures with non-genetically modified organisms, information on the possibility that the genetically modified organisms may be present, is sufficient.".

Given under the Official Seal of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government this 29th day of July, 1997.

NoelDempsey _______________

Minister for the Environment and

Local Government.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend the Genetically Modified Organisms Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 345 of 1994 ), by introducing additional requirements in the case of notifications submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for consent to market products containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms. The additional requirements, which must be met in each case, relate to:

( a ) the provision of information for inclusion in a register of modifications to organisms (species), and

( b ) the provision of information on the proposed labelling of products.), by introducing additional requirements in the case of notifications submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for consent to market products containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms. The additional requirements, which must be met in each case, relate to: