Amendments to Gentically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000

HSC press release C054:04 - 23 December 2004

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) are consulting on proposed minor amendments to the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000. The consultation runs from 20 December 2004 to 12 March 2005.

The proposed amendments include the following:

• The possibility of removing the regional versions of the public register; these versions are not in fact being used. The register will still be available in London and Liverpool and we are planning to create an abridged version for the internet shortly. The parts of the register that relate to Scotland and Wales will remain in HSE offices in those countries.
• Amendments to some of the containment measures to help clarify requirements.
• The replacement of regulations 22 and 23 on confidentiality with references to the relevant provisions in the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, in force from 1 January 2005.The possibility of using the GMO (Contained Use) Regulations to collect information on the transboundary movement of GMOs for use in contained facilities. The collection of this information is required by the European Commission and HSC are consulting on the best way to implement the requirement.
• Several technical changes required by Parliament’s Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments; changes which make no difference to the effect of the Regulations.

Details are in the publication Consultative Document Proposals for the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Amendment Regulations 2005, available from HSE Books.

Notes to editors

1. The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 protect humans and the environment from risks arising from working with GMOs in contained facilities. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) administers these Regulations.
   
   
2. Most Contained Use activities are in laboratories.
   
   
3. All centres working with genetically modified organisms have to notify HSE and there are currently about 550 centres so notified.
   
   
4. Separate regulations cover the deliberate release of GMOs, for example in farm evaluations, and these regulations are administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
   
   
5. The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 are administered by Defra.

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office