Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Decree on Disclosure of Information on Disasters and Serious Acci-
dents (Biro) was enacted,
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requiring permit-holders to provide munici-
pal executives at the local level with information about GMOs that could
lead to a disaster or serious accident. The Biro decree also required that
laboratories draw up contingency plans for implementation under such
circumstances.
National GM Food Safety Policy
In the Netherlands, in addition to the legislation on regulating environ-
mental risk, activities involving GMOs have also been governed by other
legislation. With regard to the safety of GM food and feed products, the
Dutch government acted before EU rules took effect and issued regula-
tions governing the entry of such foods and feed into the national market.
The Food and Commodities Act became the principal framework for
regulating food safety, and under Article 15 of the Act, the government
issued temporary emergency regulations for GM foods. The Dutch reg-
ulatory program also required authorization for products derived from,
but not containing, viable GMOs, irrespective of their substantial equiv-
alence to existing, traditionally bred plants.
Authorization of GM food products required development of a
dossier containing reports that demonstrate the product's safety for ani-
mals, humans, and the environment, and an assessment of the dossier
by the Committee on Safety Assessment of Novel Foods. In addition,
the Advisory Committee of the Food and Commodities Act (ACWW)
was charged with responsibility for labeling provisions to provide Dutch
consumers with objective information.
The government renewed these regulations in 1995 with some alter-
ations in anticipation of the EUNovel Food Regulation, including recog-
nition of “substantial equivalence” as a key concept in Dutch product
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Disclosure of Information on Disasters and Serious Accidents Decree (Biro), 1994,
Staatsblad 463 (NL).
