Ministerial Decree No. 38639/2017 establishing measures and terms for the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms, in compliance with Council Directive 2001/18/EC.

The Decree aims at implementing the provisions of Law No. 1650/86 “on the protection for the environment”, more specifically, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 20. It also aims at harmonizing the Greek legislative frame with the provisions of Council Directive 2001/18/EC so as ensure that all appropriate measures are taken in order to avoid adverse effects on human health and the environment, which might arise from the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their placing on the market as or in products. The Decree is composed as follows: objective (art. 1); definitions (genetically modified organism, environmental risk assessment, deliberate release, etc. (art. 2); field of application - exemptions (art. 3); general obligations (art. 4); pharmaceutical substances - exemptions (art. 5); obligations of persons (art. 6); fees (art. 7); competent authority - constitution of a committee (art. 8); terms and procedures of consent on deliberate release of GMOs (art. 9); differentiated special procedures (art. 10); amendments - new information (art. 11); procedure of consultation with and information to the public (art. 12); reporting by notifiers on releases (art. 13); exchange of information between competent authorities and the Commission on GMOs as or in products (art. 14); placing of GMOs on the market (arts. 15 -27); labelling (arts. 24, 29); confidentiality (art. 28); consultation with scientific committees (art. 30); exchange of information between competent authorities and the Commission and submission of reports (art. 31); controls (art. 32). The seven Annexes included in the text, constitute integral part of this Decree: Annex IA, techniques referred to in article 2 (2a); Annex IB techniques referred to in article 2b; Annex II, principles for the environmental risk assessment; Annex III, information required in the notification; Annex III A, information required in notifications concerning releases of genetically modified organisms other than higher plants and Annex III B, information required in notifications concerning releases of genetically modified higher plants (gymnospermae and angiospermae); Annex IV, additional information; Annex V, criteria for the application of differentiated procedures (article 10); Annex VI, guidelines for the assessment reports; Annex VII, monitoring plan.