EC rules on use of GMOs face major deregulation

The European Commission is considering a major revision of the EC Directive on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) to relieve regulators of the duty to carry out risk assessments and give explicit consent to proposals to use GMMs. If the move goes ahead it is likely substantially to reduce regulatory scrutiny of the contained use of GMMs. But UK regulators deny that they will increase the risks posed by such activities.