Greece
Country introduction:
Greece is a Member State of the European Union and the placing on the market of GM foods in its territories is regulated by the European Union legislation. According to this legislation GM foods can only be allowed on the EU market once they have received authorisation following an approval process described in the relevant EU legal framework. This process is a central procedure that takes place at EU level and involves the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority, as well as the Member States. The final decision is applied to all EU Member States. The main EU regulations for authorisation and risk assessment procedures, for GM food, are: Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) 641/2004 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 503/2013.
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 (regulatory framework):
Relevant contact details:
1. Stefanitsi Dionysia, Independent Authority for Public Revenue, Directorate General of the General Chemical State Laboratory, d.stefanitsi@gcsl.gr 2. Karavangeli Margarita, Ministry of Rural Development and Food (MRDF)/Hellenic Food Authority (EFET), margarita_karavangeli@yahoo.gr, mkaravangeli@efet.gr
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 does not regularly conduct food safety assessment of GM food, but has conducted at least once in the past.
Supplemental information (assessment):
Regulation stacked events:
Stacked events require full assessment as a new GM event.
Supplemental information (stacked events):
It is important to be mentioned that, according to the EU legislation, stacked events need to be authorized as such, even if single events are authorized. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 503/2013 describes the minimum requirements for the risk assessment of stacked events.
GM food/feed production:
My country does not produce any GM food or feed.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information (production and trade):
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has not faced any LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information (LLP/AP incidents):
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information (labelling requirement):
Relevant links:
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