Original: english, spanish and french

Advisory Board for Biotechnology

The main duties of the Advisory Board are to promote communication between users of gene technology, to promote research in the field, to follow the development of environmental effects and risk assessment, and to advance information and education in the field of gene technology. The primary task of the Advisory Board is to consider ethical issues, follow public debate on gene technology and improve the public perception of gene technology. Under the Gene Technology Decree (821/1995), the duties of the Advisory Board for Biotechnology are as follows:
1. To promote cooperation between authorities, the research community and research organisations in matters relating to biotechnology and in particular to gene technology;

2. To monitor and promote international cooperation on biotechnology;

3. To follow the progress in biotechnology, biotechnology research and the health and environmental effects of biotechnology;

4. To develop and promote research, information and education in biotechnology;

5. To promote the consideration of ethical issues in biotechnology; and

6. To handle other matters relating to biotechnology assigned by ministries.

The Advisory Board does not give legally binding decisions. The Board may issue opinions by request or on its own initiative. It publishes a journal and organises debates and seminars in the field. The Advisory Board is appointed by the government for a term of three years at a time and is composed of representatives of the research community, public authorities and nongovernmental

organisations. When needed, the Board sets up working groups in specific areas: e.g. EC legislation, national regulation of genetic engineering, environmental issues, bioethics, and information services.

www.bioteknologia.info

A contact, information and discussion forum in the form of Www-pages that contain a lot of information on different aspects of biotechnology. The topics include legislation, bioethics, human health, food, environment, global view, and safety issues including also gene technology and transgenic approaches. This info is open to all public and gives an opportunity to discuss biotechnology topics with national experts and researchers. The www-pages are coordinated and updated as a part of NeoBio programme financed by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES).

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3. Does your country have any guidelines or regulations for minimizing the impacts of

genetically modified trees for scientific and/or commercial purposes?
If yes, please list them according to the categories below:

If no, please explain the reason why here:

Environmental impacts of genetically modified trees

(Example: effects on native ecosystems, use of herbicide)

Cultural impacts of genetically modified trees

(Example: positive or negative impacts on indigenous and local communities and their

traditional knowledge)

Socio-economic impacts of genetically modified trees

(Example: positive or negative effects on quantity, quality and economic value of forest

production; positive or negative impacts on livelihoods of communities)
YES;
National legislation including:

• 
  The Gene Technology Act (Geenitekniikkalaki 377/1995)
  
• 
  The Gene Technology Decree by the Council of the State (Valtioneuvoston asetus geenitekniikasta 928/2004)
  

• 
  Detailed Decrees by the the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön asetukset 272/2006, 110/2005, 90/2005, 184/2005, 1053/2005)
  

The Finnish Gene technology Act is based on the following EU Directives:

• 
  The Directive 90/219/EEC with its amendment 98/81/EEC and 90/220/EEC
  
• 
  The Decision by the European Commission 2000/608/EC
  
• 
  Directive 2001/18/EEC together with the following EU regulations:
  

• 
  2002/813/EEC
  
• 
  2002/812/EEC
  
• 
  2002/811/EEC
  
• 
  2002/623/EEC
  
• 
  2003/701/EEC
  
• 
  2004/204/EEC
  
• 
  The Decree by European Commission N:o 65/2004
  

All the above mentioned legislation and regulations aim at minimizing potential environmental effects of genetically modified trees, and to some extent, also give guidance to socio-economic aspects. In addition, the leading research funding organization in Finland (the Academy of Finland) has a current ESGEMO Research Programme on Environmental, Societal and Health Effects of Genetically Modified Organisms for the years 2004-2007. The objectives of the ESGEMO Programme are 1) to create new knowledge on environmental and health effects and potential risks of GMOs used in agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, and environmental applications, particularly in boreal conditions; basic knowledge on related ecology and population genetics is emphasised; 2) develop novel tools for research and assessment of the potential impacts of GMOs on nature and its complex processes, and 3) evaluate the socio-economic and technological impacts of the use of GMOs, including ethical considerations and public acceptance of novel biotechnology.

FRANCE

[19 November 2007]

[SUBMISSION:ENGLISH AND FRENCH]
ENGLISH VERSION

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

Yes - two experimental plots of genetically modified trees (poplars), covering respectively 500 m2 and 1000 m², are currently in place.

2. Has your country developed any platform/discussion forum/national committee etc. dealing with genetically modified trees?
An Internet site on GMOs has been set up by the French Gvt, posted at http://www. ogm.gouv.fr (in French). The aim is to provide information to the general public and civil society organizations on the issue of genetic modification. This inter-ministerial site proposes replies to FAQs. Users can improve their knowledge by consulting thematic sheets (more about the issue), existing regulations, on-going / requests for new experiments, and commercial developments in Europe.

The site is not a platform nor a forum for specific discussions on genetically modified trees. GM tree issues are marginal in France and relate only to a limited number of experiment trials conducted by research institutions (less than 10 experimental plots set up between 1989 and 2006).

Since 2003, each application to the ministry of agriculture for the establishment of a GMO field trial is processed through public information and consultation.

3. Does your country have any guidelines or regulations for minimizing the impacts of

genetically modified trees for scientific and/or commercial purposes?
Yes, France implements EU legislation (inc. Directives 2001/18/EC and 1999/105). All field trial applications are processes by a Biomolecular Engineering Commission – Commission du Génie Biomoléculaire, an advisory body which may provide recommendations and revisions to applications.

Environmental impacts of genetically modified trees

(Example: effects on native ecosystems, use of herbicide)

To date, the french authorities have received no application for the commercialisation of a GM tree..
As regards ongoing field trials, two experimental plots set up by INRA, for a total area not exceeding 1,500 m², follow strict tending procedures, including annual pruning before flowering, to avoid gene-flow in the environment.
Cultural impacts of genetically modified trees

(Example: positive or negative impacts on indigenous and local communities and their

traditional knowledge)

n.a. (the 1,500 m² area is too small to have any significant impact).

Socio-economic impacts of genetically modified trees

(Example: positive or negative effects on quantity, quality and economic value of forest

production; positive or negative impacts on livelihoods of communities)

n.a. (the 1,500 m² area is too small to have any significant impact).

FRENCH VERSION:

1. Est-ce que votre pays a des plantations, soit sur une base commerciale ou expérimentale, d’arbres génétiquement modifiés ?
Oui, la France recense actuellement deux plantations expérimentales d’arbres génétiquement modifiés (des peupliers), d’environ 500 et 1000 m².
Si vous avez répondu par l’affirmative, répondez aux questions suivantes:

Si vous avez répondu par la négative, expliquez la raison:
2. Est-ce que votre pays a mis en place une plate-forme, ou un forum de discussion, ou un comité national, etc., pour aborder le sujet des arbres génétiquement modifiés ?

Si vous avez répondu par l’affirmative, répondez aux questions suivantes:

Si vous avez répondu par la négative, expliquez la raison:

L’Etat Français a mis en place un site internet sur les OGM, accessible à l’adresse http://www.ogm.gouv.fr,  dont l’objectif est de répondre aux questions posées par la société civile sur les organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM). Ce site interministériel propose des réponses aux interrogations les plus fréquentes. L'internaute peut approfondir ses connaissances en consultant les fiches thématiques (en savoir plus), les dossiers sur la réglementation, les expérimentations en cours ou à venir, et la mise sur le marché européen.

Ce site ne peut cependant pas être considéré comme étant une plate-forme ou un forum de discussion spécifique sur les arbres génétiquement modifiés. La problématique « arbres forestiers génétiquement modifiés » est très marginale en France et ne concerne qu’un nombre très limité d’expériences conduites par des organismes scientifiques (moins de 10 entre 1989 et 2006).
Précisons que, depuis 2003, pour chaque demande d’autorisation d’une expérimentation en plein champ adressée au ministère de l’agriculture et de la pêche, une information et une consultation du public est réalisée par ce ministère.
3. Est-ce que votre pays a développé des lignes directrices ou des réglementations, à des fins scientifiques et/ou commerciales, pour minimiser les impacts des arbres génétiquement modifiés ?

Si vous avez répondu par l’affirmative, veuillez les lister selon les catégories suivantes:

Si vous avez répondu par la négative, expliquez la raison:
Oui, la France applique la réglementation communautaire et notamment les directives 2001/18/CE (relative à la dissémination volontaire d'organismes génétiquement modifiés dans l'environnement) et 1999/105 (relative à la commercialisation des matériels forestiers de reproduction). Tous les dossiers de demande d’autorisation d’une expérimentation sont examinés par la Commission de génie biomoléculaire, qui peut assortir son avis de recommandations ou de prescriptions.

Impacts sur l’environnement des arbres génétiquement modifiés

(Exemples: impacts sur les écosystèmes indigènes, utilisation d’herbicides, etc.)
A ce jour, aucune demande d’admission d’arbres génétiquement modifiés, en vue de la commercialisation, n’est intervenue en France.
S’agissant des expérimentations en plein champ, les deux expérimentations conduites actuellement par l’INRA, sur 1 500 m² au total, font l’objet d’un cahier des charges très strict, qui impose notamment l’élagage avant floraison, afin d’éviter toute pollinisation et dissémination dans le milieu naturel.
Impacts culturels des arbres génétiquement modifiés

(Exemples: impacts positifs ou négatifs sur les communautés indigènes ou locales, sur leur mode

de vie ou sur leur savoir traditionnel)

Sans objet (en dehors des 1 500 m² mentionnés plus haut)

Impacts socio-économiques des arbres génétiquement modifiés

(Exemples: effets positifs ou négatifs sur la quantité de production forestière, la qualité et la

valeur économique de la production forestière ; ou impacts positifs ou négatifs sur les modes

de subsistance des communautés).

Sans objet (en dehors des 1 500 m² mentionnés plus haut).