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Board for Gene Technolgy |
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English Summary
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The Board The Board for Gene Technology is constituted by the Gene Technology Act (No.377/1995). In addition to being a national authority in Finland, the Board functions as a competent authority towards the European Community. It processes notifications concerning the use and release of genetically modified organisms as defined in directives 90/219/EEC and 2001/18/EC, and responds to them within its authority to make legally binding decisions. The Board aims to promote safe and ethically acceptable use of gene technology and to prevent and avert any harm gene technology may inflict on human health, animals, property or the environment. Its priorities include processing notifications, issuing instructions and regulations, acting as a registration authority, preparing opinions and recommendations, monitoring, restricting or prohibiting the use of potentially dangerous organisms and imposing administrative sanctions to ensure its provisions are complied with. The Board consists of a chairman, a vice chairman and five members who represent the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of the Environment. Ethical expertise shall also be represented on the Board. The Board is appointed for five years by the Council of State. Contact information: Secretary General Irma Salovuori Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Secretary Hannele Leiwo e-mail: hannele.leiwo(at)stm.fi
Contained Use of Genetically Modified Organisms In Finland the contained use of genetically modified organisms (including microorganisms, plants and animals) is regulated by the Gene Technology Act (377/1995). Every operator using GMOs has certain duties laid down by the Act. The operator must make a risk assessment of each GMO and show care when using them. The operator has a duty to obtain information on the properties of the GMOs and to keep a record of the contained use. Also, the operator has a duty to submit relevant notifications to the Board for Gene Technology and to update the documents as specified by the Act. The contained use of genetically modified microorganisms is classified in four classes based on the risk assessment. The notification procedure depends on the class: Class 1. The operator must have a notification of the premises (14 §). The first use may be commenced when the notification has been submitted. Later use does not require any notification but the operator must keep a record of the risk assessment. Class 2. The operator must have a notification of the premises (14 §) and a notification of the use of GMOs (14 a §). The first use may be commenced after the expiry of a 45-day waiting period. Later use may require a new notification depending on the characteristics of the new GMOs. Class 3-4. The operator must have a notification of the premises (14 §) and also submit an application for the use of GMOs (14 b §). The use may be commenced only after the Board has granted a written consent. Any later use requires a new consent. Further provisions on contained use and notification procedures are given in the Government Decree on Gene Technology (928/2004), Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Decree on principles of risk assessment of the contained use of genetically modified organisms, on classification of contained use as well as on containment and other protective measures (1053/2005), and Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Decree 272/2006 addressing the notification procedures and record-keeping. If you are going to use any GMOs you should first find out how your establishment has organised its notifications. The operator defined by the Gene Technology Act can be for example the institute, its division or an individual research group. Explore the possibility to work under a previously existing notification especially if your contained use is class 1. If in any doubt contact the Board for Gene Technology before submitting any new documents. Please, note that the documents submitted to the Board must be written either in Finnish or Swedish. The operator is charged for processing notifications. The notification forms and all other relevant material (in Finnish) can be found at Materiaali toiminnanharjoittajille. The form for genetically modified micro-organisms is available
Regulations Concerning the Use of Genetically The following national regulations are currently available in English
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Last updated 21.08.2009 |
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