(Last revised: 5 May, 2010 )
(Further information: bbch@wiv-isp.be)

NB: Most of the links below refers to the Belgian Biosafety Server

The Belgian legislation covering the intentional introduction into the environment of LMOs (living modified organisms) - referred to in Belgium as GMOs (genetically modified organisms) - implements or enforces the European Directive 2001/18/EC of 12 March 2001 repealing the Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990, and subsidiary EC Decisions. Through these Community regulatory measures, Member States are required "to regulate the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms in order to minimize their potential negative effects on human health and the environment".

At the Belgian level, the Directive 2001/18/EC has been transposed into national legislation via the Royal Decree of 21 February 2005 on the deliberate release into the environment and the placing on the market of GMOs or GMO-containing products.
The full text of the Royal Decree is available from the "Belgian Biosafety Server" in French or in Dutch.

The intentional introduction in Belgium of an GMO (or a combination of GMOs) into the environment for the purpose of research and development, or for any other purpose than for placing on the European Community (EC) market, is forbidden.
Any person wishing to undertake such an introduction must submit a notification to the relevant Belgian competent authorities. This notification shall include a technical dossier of information including a full risk assessment.
The notifier may proceed with the intentional introduction into the environment only when he has obtained the consent of the competent authorities.

When LMOs (GMOs) are introduced into the environment as or in products ("placing on the market"), a similar procedure applies. The notification will be send to the Belgian competent authority if Belgium is the Member State where the LMO (GMO) is to be placed on the market first. However, the final consent has to be given at Community level to allow the LMO (GMO) to be used throughout the Community.