Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Infections at work and GMOs
Welcome to ACGM Newsletter 32. This Newsletter contains
information and guidance for those undertaking activities covered
by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations
2000 and is designed to provide information on where guidance on
these regulations can be found. Full documents referred to here are
available at:
http: www.hse.gov.uk/dst/scdir/htm under 'Journals/Newsletters from the Directorate of Science and Technology'
A hard copy of this document can be obtained through the ACGM Secretariat 0151 951 4718 or by e-mailing Jane.Rheinheimer@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
The 48th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification was held on Thursday 14th November 2002 at the Health and Safety Executive, the Globe Room, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London. The meeting included:
A summary of the meeting is available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/hsc/iacs/acgm/acgm48.htm
The third annual report on the work of ACGM has been published and is
available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframes/gm-rep3.pdf 
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This paper describes the latest developments on the Aarhus Convention,
which promotes public access to environmental information and decision-making;
and the EU regulation on transboundary movement of GMOs.
This document describes the measures being taken to overcome the duplication
of notification under these two sets of legislation.
This document gives a brief update on the new COSHH Regulations, which came into force on 21 November 2002.
At the 48th meeting of ACGM (see above), outline proposals to amend the
Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000.were discussed.
Some amendments are necessary following comments on the 2000 Regulations
from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. The opportunity
is being taken to address other issues that have arisen since the Regulations
came into force. ACGM agreed that work should go ahead on preparing amending
regulations and HSE is now working up the proposals into a consultative
document to be published later in the year. Areas under consideration
for amendment include:
It is 'HM' Government's policy to recover full costs
where charging schemes are in place and HSE has not recouped these
full costs from the GMO contained use notification process over
previous years. This higher than inflation rise helps (in part) to
address this imbalance. A document detailing the current fees can
be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/dst/acgmwarn.htm.
The Contained Use Regulations 2000 require centres to immediately
notify the Competent Authority of accidents resulting in
significant and unintended release of genetically modified
organisms. This document provides guidance on what sort of
incidents would require notification to HSE as a GM accident, the
information you have to provide, who to contact, and what the
Competent Authority does with the information.
A form has been drawn up to enable centres to supply information on
GM accidents to the Competent Authority.
This document aims to remind GM centres of the need to keep the
Competent Authority up-to-date with the contact details of your
organisation, and provides information on quick and easy ways to do
this.
This document describes enforcement action taken since September
2002.
This document provides information on a laboratory-acquired vaccinia virus
infection.
A list of HSE contact details.
The HSE has received a number of enquiries about workshops on the GMO(CU) Regulations for biological safety officers. We are proposing to hold two, 1-day workshops later this year. Currently we expect to hold one workshop for BSOs, safety officers and safety professionals, and a second for academics, researchers and others whose work may fall under GMO(CU).
To gauge the interest in these events and to arrange suitable venues, we would be grateful if you would indicate your interest by e-mailing liz.pollitt@hse.gsi.gov.uk, before 31 June 2003.
It would also be helpful if your e-mail could include:
If you would like to receive an electronic version of the ACGM Newsletter and all the associated documents by e-mail please send an e-mail to Jane.Rheinheimer@hse.gsi.gov.uk. We would be grateful if you could inform others in your organisation, (particularly those involved in risk assessment and notification) of this facility to ensure that guidance issued in newsletters receives a wide circulation.
Updated on HSE web site 5 June 2003