How does the authorization of GM food and feed occur?

Authorisation of genetically modified organisms for food and feed uses, and for products containing GMOs, and products produced from GMOs or containing ingredients produced from GMOs, is regulated by Regulation 1829/2003/EC.

The applicant submits the application for authorization to the competent authority of a Member State. Then the authority sends the application to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), who informs the other Member States and the Commission, makes all documentation available to them, and makes the application summary available to the public. Then, the EFSA makes an assessment on the application. (http://www.efsa.europa.eu). The Member States have an opportunity to comment or to raise objections against the application.. It then publishes its opinion, including an analysis and a justification, to the Commission, to the Member States and to the applicant, and makes it available to the public. The public also has an opportunity to comment on the opinion within 30 days. The European Commission makes a proposal taking into consideration the EFSA’s opinion. The final decision is made on the basis of the comitology procedure described in paragraph 2, Article 35 of Regulation 1829/2003/EC. These rules have been amended since the Treaty of Lisbon.

The list of the products, which are authorized in the EU, can be found here.