Legal bases and practical recommendations for handling genetically modified organisms in the environment

The legal bases for monitoring genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the environment can be found in the Release Ordinance (RO, SR 814.911) and various sections of the Containment Ordinance (ContainO, SR814.912).

Legal bases

The most important legal provisions concerning GMO monitoring are the following:

The FOEN ensures the establishment of a monitoring system:

Art. 51 Release Ordinance (RO)

The FOEN carries out surveys:

Art. 50 Release Ordinance (RO)

The cantons prescribe control measures for GMOs and measures to prevent their future occurrence. The FOEN coordinates the control measures:

Art. 52 Release Ordinance (RO)

Public nature of the information:

Art. 54 Release Ordinance (RO)

The containment obligation for genetically modified organisms. The cantons monitor compliance with the duty of care:

Art. 23 Containment Ordinance (ContainO)

Practical recommendations

Federal and cantonal experts drew on many years of experience in establishing the GMO monitoring concept to prepare the following documents, which discuss the monitoring of genetically modified rapeseed, as well as sampling of rapeseed and lucerne. These documents are primarily intended for cantonal authorities.

Bekämpfung von gentechnisch verändertem Raps (PDF, 394 kB, 24.10.2014)available in german only

SOP for the sampling of rapeseed for laboratory analyses (PDF, 3 MB, 10.07.2018)

SOP Probenahme LUZERNE für Laboranalyse (PDF, 959 kB, 02.02.2018)available in german and french only