Is it useful or needed?

On 24 October 2008 the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) submitted an application for a permit for a small-scale field trial with genetically modified (GM) poplar WT/52-3 to the Dutch competent authority (CA) for Directive 2001/18/EC. On 29 January 2009 the Dutch CA published its draft decision to grant the permit. The draft permit issued by the Dutch CA is solely based on an evaluation of the potential risks of the field trial to the environment and human health. The Dutch CA considers an evaluation of the need or usefulness of this field trial as well as other deliberate releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) beyond the scope of the Dutch legislation implementing Directive 2001/18/EC.

Notably, on 4 December 2008 the European Environment Council  invited Member States to collect and exchange information on other aspects related to environmental releases of GMOs, such as socio-economic benefits and risks and agronomic sustainability. Thus, for an integral appraisal of an environmental release of a GMO, not only its potential risks to the environment and human health must be evaluated. Other legitimate factors and the wider context also have to be examined.

Against this background Greenpeace-Netherlands requested Schenkelaars Biotechnology Consultancy (SBC) to provide an analysis of  the potential need or usefulness of the field trial with GM poplar WT/52-3 in the Netherlands. In addition, SBC was also commissioned to review the official environmental risk analysis and the physical containment measures foreseen for the field trial with poplar WT/52-3. As Greenpeace indicated that it might make use of this review in legal procedures to challenge the permit, it has been drafted in Dutch.

Download usefulness / need analysis

Download review environmental risk assessment (Dutch)