E-mail:
Country:
Belgium
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Federal Public Service of Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
Contact person name:
Mathias De Mesmaeker
Website:
Physical full address:
EUROSTATION II, Place Victor Horta 40/10, 1060 Brussels
Phone number:
0032 2 524 92 19
Fax number:
Country introduction
Summary:
Belgium is a Member State of the European Union, and the regulation of GM foods takes place at EU level. Safety assessments are carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and authorisations are issued on an EU-wide basis. Besides this safety assessment at EU level, also a national safety assessment is done by the Biosafety Advisory Council. Assessments include a detailed study of potential for toxic, nutritional and allergenic effects.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country regularly conducts food safety assessment of GM food.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
In my country, GM food/feed that contains stacked event(s) is considered as a new product even if all single events that are stacked have already approved.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed for commercial and research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has faced LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
23/02/2023
