European Commission
DG Health and Consumers

The Commission harmonises the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy on non-authorised GM material in feed with Regulation EC 619/2011 in force since 15 July 2011. It addresses the legal uncertainty EU businesses face when marketing feed imported from non-EU countries.

National approaches differed to the controls of material containing, consisting of or produced from GMOs in feed with a pending or expired authorisation.

Key points

• Covers only GM feed material;
• Sets the technical zero level at 0.1 % - the lowest level of GM material considered by the EU Reference Laboratory for the validation of quantitative methods;
• Harmonises sampling and testing controls in all EU countries;
• GM material must:
  • be authorised for commercialisation in a non-EU country;
  • have a valid or expired EFSA application (Reg. 1829/2003);
  • have an authorisation pending for more than 3 months
    • have not been identified by EFSA as susceptible to have adverse effects on health or the environment when present under 0.1%;
    • quantitative method of analysis published by the EU reference laboratory;
    • certified reference material must be available to EU countries and third parties;