Decree on Genetically Modified Organisms

372 Decree of the Ministry of the Environment of October 6, 2000 laying down the technical procedures, that may result in a genetically modified organism and technical procedures that are not considered to result in a genetically modified organism Pursuant to § 24 letter a) of Act No. 153/2000 Coll., on the use of genetically modified organisms and products and amending some related acts, the Ministry of the Environment, in agreement with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, hereby lays down: § 1 Genetically modified organisms may be yielded using a) the technique of recombinant nucleic acids forming new combinations of genetic material by the insertion of a section of nucleic acid prepared by whatever means outside of an organism into any virus, bacterial plasmid or other vector system and its subsequent incorporation into the organism of a recipient in which it does not normally occur but in which it is capable of further multiplication, b) the technique of introduction of genetic material prepared by whatever means outside of an organism directly into the organism of the recipient, including micro-injection, macro injection, biolistic methods, micro-encapsulation and artificial chromosomes, or c) the technique of cell fusion (including protoplast fusion) or cell hybridization, in which fusion of two or several cells leads to the formation of a viable cell with a new combination of heritable material, by means of methods or means that do not occur naturally. § 2 (1) The following technical procedures may not result in a genetically modified organisms, on condition they do not involve the use of recombinant heritable material (deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid) or genetically modified organisms formed using the techniques set forth in § 1: a) in vitro fertilization, b) bacterial conjugation, transformation, transduction and similar natural processes, c) induction of polyploidism and haploidism, d) mutagenesis, or e) crossing. (2) For the purposes of the contained use, the following technical procedures may also not result in a genetically modified organism, on condition they do not involve the use of recombinant heritable material (deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid) or genetically modified organisms formed using the techniques set forth in § 1: a) fusion of cells or protoplasts of procaryontic organisms, that can exchange genetic material by a known physiological process, or b) fusion of cells or protoplasts of eucaryontic organisms, including formation of hybridomas and fusion of plant cells. (3) For the purpose of introduction into the environment, a technique of fusion of plant cells or protoplasts may also not result in a genetically modified organism if the resultant organism can also be obtained by traditional breeding methods, on condition this technique does not involve the use of recombinant genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid) or genetically modified organisms formed using the techniques set forth in § 1. § 3 This Decree shall come into effect on January 1, 2001. Minister: Dr. Kužvart