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

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

At the European Union level, the legislation covering the direct use of living modified organisms (genetically modified organisms) as food or feed, or for processing is mainly based on the European Directive 2001/18/EC of 12 March 2001 repealing the Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990.
This Directive provides the "horizontal" legal framework. In the specific case of GM Foods and GM Feeds, a sectoral legislation also applies at the EU level, namely EC Regulation 1829/2003 of 22 September 2003.

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.
As far as the sectorial legislation is concerned, all EC Regulations apply as such in all Member States.

Applications for LMOs that will be used as food or feed have to be submitted according to EC Regulation 1829/2003. The final consent is given at Community level to allow the product to be used throughout the Community, after a scientific evaluation undertaken under the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

LMOs intended for processing are currently covered only by the above-mentioned Royal Decree. The notification will be send to the Belgian competent authorities if Belgium is the Member State where the LMO is to be used first. However, the final consent has to be given at Community level to allow the product to be used throughout the Community.