The FOEN ensures a monitoring of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the environment. For that purpose, it carries out surveys and targeted investigations and develops suitable methods to recognise possible hazards to the environment or impairments of biodiversity.
Legal bases
The most important legal provisions concerning GMO monitoring are the following:
- The FOEN ensures the establishment of a monitoring system (Art. 51 RO).
- The FOEN carries out surveys (Art. 50 RO).
- The cantons prescribe control measures for GMOs and measures to prevent their future occurrence. The FOEN coordinates the control measures (Art. 52 RO).
- Public nature of the information (Art. 54 RO).
- The containment obligation for genetically modified organisms. The cantons monitor compliance with the duty of care (Art. 23 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, 1 MB, 01.07.2023)available in german, french and italian
SOP Probenahme LUZERNE für Laboranalyse (PDF, 959 kB, 01.07.2023)available in german and french only
Further Information
Documents
Technical Report: Monitoring of Spontaneous Populations of Genetically Modified Plant Species in the Environment (PDF, 3 MB, 29.05.2019)Prepared for the Joint EPA ENCA Interest Group on Genetically Modified Organisms (IG GMO)
Last modification 15.08.2023
