Original: english, spanish and french

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

[19 November 2007]

[SUBMISSION:ENGLISH]
1. Does your country have any plantations, either commercial or experimental, of genetically

modified trees?
Not applicable to the European Community. Information on activities in Member States are provided in Member State submissions annexed to the EU submission.
2. Has your country developed any platform/discussion forum/national committee etc. dealing

with genetically modified trees?
There is no platform, discussion forum or committee specifically set up at EC level to deal with GM trees. As explained below, European Community rules on the deliberate release into the environment and placing on the market of GMOs also apply to GM trees. If needed, GM trees can be discussed in regular meetings of the competent authorities under Directive 2001/18/EC or in the Council Working Party on International Environmental Issues (Biodiversity).
3. Does your country have any guidelines or regulations for minimizing the impacts of

genetically modified trees for scientific and/or commercial purposes?
The European Communities' strict rules on genetically modified organisms seek to ensure that potentially negative impacts of GM trees are minimised.
The provisions of Directive 2001/18/EC¹ on the deliberate release into the environment and placing on the market of GMOs apply to GM trees, in accordance with the definition of GMOs provided in Article 2. GM trees may only be introduced into the environment in conformity with Part B (research purposes) or Part C (commercial use) of the Directive, respectively. In addition, if one of the expected uses is either food or feed, cultivation of GM trees could be authorised in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1829/2003². The latter provisions require a prior authorisation to be granted on the basis of a full environmental risk assessment.
Environmental impacts of genetically modified trees
Annex II of Directive 2001/18/EC describes the principles to be followed to perform environmental risk assessments, both for authorisations under the Directive itself and under Regulation 1829/2003. These principles have been supplemented by Commission Decision 2002/623/EC of 24 July 2002³ providing detailed guidance on the objective, elements, general principles and methodology of the environmental risk assessment. Decision 2002/623/EC makes explicit reference to possible delayed effects of GM trees on health and environment due to their potential longevity, as well as to the importance of taking them into account in the environmental risk assessment.
In addition, Directive 90/219/EEC⁴ on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms requires that 'containment conditions' are implemented, on the basis of a risk assessment, to ensure the necessary protection of human health and the environment. Member States undertaking contained use activities with GM plants (including GM trees) have transposed the Directive to govern such organisms under containment.
Directives 2001/18/EC and 90/219/EEC include requirements for risk assessments to be carried out taking into account potential adverse effects on environment and health. Provisions for risk assessment are founded on comprehensive scientific evaluations.
Cultural impacts of genetically modified trees
Cultural aspects could be taken into consideration in the risk management phase of decisions on the deliberate release of GM trees, as appropriate.
Socio-economic impacts of genetically modified trees
Socio-economic considerations could be taken into account in the risk management phase of decisions on the deliberate release of GM trees, as appropriate.
Reporting obligations under Directive 2001/18/EC require the Member States to send a report to the Commission every three years on the measures taken to implement the provisions of the Directive. This document includes a brief factual report on their experience with GMOs placed on the market in or as products under this Directive. Furthermore, the Directive requires the Commission send to the European Parliament and the Council, in 2003 and thereafter every three years, a report on the experience of Member States with GMOs placed on the market under this Directive. In 2003, the Commission was requested to include an assessment of the related socio-economic implications. Accordingly, socio-economic issues were addressed in the 2003 report, which referred mostly to coexistence issues, whilst referring to concerns about the possible adverse impacts of the EU regulatory framework on producers in developing countries. Specific implications of GM trees were not identified.

FINLAND

[19 November 2007]

[SUBMISSION:ENGLISH]

______________________________________________________________________________

1. Does your country have any plantations, either commercial or experimental, of genetically

modified trees?
If yes, please answer all remaining questions.

If no, please state the reason why:

YES, at the moment (June 2006) one experimental plantation of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) for scientific research. Before that, two already finished field studies with transgenic silver birch and one field study where transgenic pollen from Norway spruce, pine and silver birch was used for controlled crossings.

________________________________________________________________________________
2. Has your country developed any platform/discussion forum/national committee etc. dealing

with genetically modified trees?
If yes, please answer the remaining questions.

If no, please state the reason why:

YES, the following :
Board for Gene Technology
The Board for Gene Technology is constituted by the Gene Technology Act (No.377/1995). In addition to being a national authority in Finland, the Board functions as a competent authority towards the European Community. It processes notifications concerning the use and release of genetically modified organisms as defined in directives 90/219/EEC, its amendment 98/81/EEC and 90/220/EEC, and responds to them within its authority to make legally binding decisions.

The Board aims to promote safe and ethically acceptable use of gene technology and to prevent and avert any harm gene technology may inflict on human health, animals, property or the environment. Its priorities include processing notifications, issuing instructions and regulations, acting as a registration authority, preparing opinions and recommendations, monitoring, restricting or prohibiting the use of potentially dangerous organisms and imposing administrative sanctions to ensure its provisions are complied with.

The Board consists of a chairman, a vice chairman and five members who represent the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of the Environment. Ethical expertise shall also be represented on the Board. The Board is appointed for five years by the Council of State.