Genetically modified food and feed

ACT : Commission Regulation 641/2004/EC on detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation 1829/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the application for the authorisation of new genetically modified food and feed, the notification of existing products and adventitious or technically unavoidable presence of genetically modified material which has benefited from a favourable risk evaluation. CONTENT : Regulation 1829/2003/EC lays down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of genetically modified food and feed and for the labelling of such food and feed. The aim of the Commission's Regulation is : - to publish detailed guidance to assist the applicant in the preparation and the presentation of the application, concerning notably the information and data to be provided in order to demonstrate that the product complies with the criteria referred to in Articles 4(1) and 16(1) of that Regulation; - to ensure a smooth transition to the regime provided by Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 transitional measures laid down in that Regulation as regards requests and notifications of products falling within the scope of other Community legislation, should be subject to implementing rules; - to provide detailed rules on the preparation and presentation of notifications of existing products submitted to the Commission under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 as regards products placed on the market in the Community before 18 April 2004. Such rules should facilitate the task of operators, in preparing applications for authorisations and in the preparation of notifications of existing products, and the Authority in evaluating such applications and verifying such notifications. In addition, in the interests of consistency of Community legislation, the scope of the present Regulation should also: - cover existing food consisting of, containing or produced from genetically modified plants and micro-organisms; - cover existing feed, including feed additives consisting of, containing or produced from genetically modified plants and micro-organisms; - exclude existing processing aids. Lastly, Regulation 1829/2003/EC provides that detailed rules are to be adopted for implementing the transitional measures for the adventitious or technically unavoidable presence of genetically modified material which has benefited from a favourable risk evaluation. In the interests of consistency of Community legislation those rules should in particular clarify which genetically modified material is covered by such transitional measures and how the 0,5 % threshold is to be applied. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 07/04/2004. The Regulation shall apply from 18 April 2004.�