2 August 2011: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released an updated version of its guidance document on post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of genetically modified (GM) plants.

PMEM is a key element of the EU legislative policy framework on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), complementing the elements of risk assessment and risk management. It is part of the cycle of measures in place to detect and limit possible adverse effects, including those that may occur over a long period of time. PMEM is comprised of two components: general surveillance to detect unanticipated adverse effects of GM plants, focusing on environmental protection; and case-specific monitoring, which must be carried out when a potential risk and/or level of uncertainty is detected that can be mitigated during cultivation but nevertheless needs to be monitored on an ongoing basis.

Under EU legislation, applications for the cultivation of GM plants must contain a detailed PMEM plan, demonstrating how the GM plant will be monitored for possible adverse effects on human health and the environment.

The new guidance document expands on previous guidance, laying out the tools for general surveillance and specific monitoring and evaluation, thus strengthening the environmental requirements that must be fulfilled before GM plants are placed the market. It also updates the guidance in the light of recent changes made to the EFSA guidance on environmental risk assessment of GMOs. [EFSA Press Release] [Publication: Scientific Opinion: Guidance on the Post-market Environmental Monitoring (PMEM) of genetically modified plants] [Publication: Technical Report: Outcome of the Public Consultations on the draft Scientific Opinion]