Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water (Photograph: BMLFUW/Michalski)Regulatory bodies
Co-existence and traceability
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water initiated a working group on gene technology in agriculture. The task of this working group is to achieve a coordinated approach for managing co-existence in all nine federal states. The group consists of representatives from the ministries of agriculture and of health, as well as representatives of the federal states, the chambers of agriculture, and members of agricultural associations.
General regulation on GMOs
The Federal Ministry of Health and Women (BMGF) is responsible for contained use and deliberate release applications from industry and research institutions. The ministry is in charge of implementing guiding laws on genetic engineering.
The Ministry of Agriculture gives comments in cases of GMO release and of placing GMO products on the market. The Austrian Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) advises the ministry and provides opinions on all applications for the deliberate release of GMOs.
Surveillance Authority
The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) is in charge of monitoring the use of all biotech products. AGES is also mandated with controlling labelling requirements in Austria.
Advisory panels
The Commission on Gene Technology advises the Austrian governments on the federal and state levels on practical questions on the implementation of the Gene Technology Act. The Commission consists of scientists and representatives from industry and administration.
- Frank Bielefeld
Genius GmbH
Robert-Bosch-Str. 7, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
Website: http://www.genius.de
Email: frank.bielefeld@genius.de
Phone: +49 6151 872 40 58
Fax: +49 6151 872 40 41
