Council Decision 2002/811/EC establishing guidance notes supplementing Annex VII to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC

The Annex to this Decision lays down guidance notes which shall be used as a supplement to Annex VII to Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. The Directive introduces an obligation for notifiers to implement monitoring plans in order to trace and identify any direct or indirect, immediate, delayed or unforeseen effects on human health and the environment of genetically modified organisms as or in products after they have been placed on the market. Annex VII to the Directive describes in general terms the objective to be achieved and the general principles to be followed to design the monitoring plans. These guidance notes supplement the information provided in Annex VII and, on the other side, expand on the objectives and the general principles for monitoring.