Whilst reading our web pages and our many other publications, you may encounter terminology and foreign words which you are not familiar with. We have included most of these in our glossary.
Please let us know if you should miss an entry: onlinekommunikation@bvl.bund.de
The AIA procedure is carried out before a GMO is transported to a party or non-party to the Cartagena protocol if it is intended to release the GMO into the environment in the party of import. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that importing countries have both the opportunity and the capacity to assess risks that may be associated with the GMO before agreeing to its import.
Variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. (source: Art. 3 Regulation (EC) No 1946/2003)
With respect to the Cartagena Protocol the term biosafety points to the protection of human, animals, plants and the environment against adverse effects of genetic engineering operations and products thereof.
An internet platform to allow sharing of information by the parties to the Cartagena Protocol. Each party provides information related to the handling of GMO, decisions on GMOs and further aspects of biosafety from its own perspective.
Supreme federal authority that is responsible for the political orientation concerning food and agriculture.
Higher federal authority that comes under the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The BVL is responsible for the risk management and diverse tasks in authorization related to food safety.
Subsequent international agreement to the Convention of Biological Diversity. The Cartagena Protocol aims at providing consistent and high definitions for requirements regarding the transboundary movement (transport) of GMOs worldwide. That is to prevent that GMOs threatening biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
Means a competent authority designated by a Party to the Cartagena Protocol, or the relevant equivalent body of a non-Party, which is responsible for performing the administrative functions required by the Protocol, or equivalent functions in the case of a non-Party, and is authorised to act on its behalf with respect to those functions. (source: Art. 3 Regulation (EC) No 1946/2003)
Meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol that takes place every two years. At COP-MOPs parties discuss the continued development of the Cartagena Protocol.
An entity for the notification of the unintentional transboundary movement (transport) of GMOs (regarding Art. 17 Cartagena Protocol) and for the initiation of emergency measures.
Facility in which genetic engineering operations are carried out and which uses specific containment measures to limit the contact of the used organisms with the general population and the environment and to ensure an appropriate safety level with regard to their risk potential.
International agreement that aims to ensure conservation and the sustainable use of biological diversity.
Means any intentional introduction into the environment of a GMO or a combination of GMOs for which no specific containment measures are used to limit their contact with and to provide a high level of safety for the general population and the environment (source: Art. 2 Directive 2001/18/EC)
Supreme federal authority that is responsible for the political orientation concerning food and agriculture.
Higher federal authority that comes under the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The BVL is responsible for the risk management and diverse tasks in authorization related to food safety.
Activities in which organisms are genetically modified or in which such GMOs are cultured, stored, transported, destroyed, disposed of or used in any other way, and for which specific containment measures are used appropriately to limit their contact with the general population and the environment. (source: Art. 3 Regulation (EC) No 1946/2003)
Means an organism, with the exception of human beings, in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination (source: Art. 2 Directive 2001/18/EC)
A Living Modified Organism (LMO) is defined in the Cartagena Protocol as any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, whereby, 'modern biotechnology' implies the usage of techniques that result in genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Means the entity designated by a Party to the Cartagena Protocol that is responsible on its behalf for liaising with the Secretariat.
Means any country or regional economic integration organisation being a Party to the Cartagena Protocol (source: Art. 3 Regulation (EC) No 1946/2003)
Making GMOs available to third parties, whether in return for payment or free of charge, insofar as the GMOs are not determined for genetic engineering operations in contained use facilities or for an accepted deliberate release.
A scientifically based process consisting of the following steps: (i) hazard identification, (ii) hazard characterization, (iii) exposure assessment, and (iv) risk characterization (from: Codex Alimentarius Commission, Procedural Manual)
Means the intentional or unintentional transport of a GMO between one party to the Cartagena Protocol or a non-Party and another Party or non-Party, except for movements between the member states of the European Union (EU, all 28 member states of the EU are parties to the Cartagena Protocol); the EU is a common economic space.
