Tasks

• Fulfilment of RKI's statutory tasks in the enforcement of the German law on genetic engineering

• Submitting statements to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), the responsible federal authority for applications for

  • release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in national approval procedures under the Genetic Engineering Act (GenTG)
  • placing GMOs on the market according to the Genetic Engineering Act or Directive 2001/18/EC
  • placing GMOs on the market for food and feed purposes in the European Union within the framework of the European participation procedure under Regulation (EC) 1829/2003
• Examination and evaluation of applications, in particular with regard to potential effects on human and animal health

• Exchange of information on releases and placing on the market of GMOs

  • at national level, e.g. with the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Julius Kühn Institute - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (JKI)
  • at European level, such as with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
  • with relevant international organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
• Consulting the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), in particular with regard to health risks or potentials of GMOs