Traceability is the ability to trace GMOs and products produced from GMOs at all stages of the food chain. The operator is responsible for transmitting all the information on the presence and nature of the GMO, to the final consumer.

The transmission and holding of information indicating that food and feed have been produced from GMOs also provide the basis for the appropriate traceability of these products.

1. At the first stage of the placing on the market (transaction in the production and distribution chains, in which the product is made available to a third party) of a product consisting of or containing GMOs, including bulk quantities, operators shall ensure that the following information is transmitted in writing to the operator receiving the product:
   1. the mention that the product contains or consists of GMOs
   2. the unique identifier (s) assigned to those GMOs.

2. At all subsequent stages of the placing on the market of the above products, operators shall ensure that the information received is transmitted in writing to the operators receiving the products,
3. In the case of products consisting of or containing mixtures of GMOs to be used only and directly as food or feed or for processing, the information referred to in paragraph 1.b) may be replaced by a declaration of use by the operator, accompanied by a list of unique identifiers for all those GMOs that have been used to constitute the mixture.
4. Operators shall have in place systems and standardised procedures to allow the holding of information specified above, for a period of 5 years from each transaction, of the operator by whom and the operator to whom the products have been made available.

For products consisting of or containing GMOs, operators shall ensure that:

• For pre-packaged products consisting of, or containing GMOs, the words “This product contains genetically modified organisms” or “This product contains genetically modified (name of organisms(s)” appear on the label.
• For non-pre-packaged products offered to the final consumer the words “This product contains genetically modified organisms” or “This product contains genetically modified [name of organism(s)]” shall appear on, or in connection with, the display of the product.

Traceability of products produced from GMOs

Operators who place on the market a product produced from GMOs, shall ensure that the following information is transmitted in writing to the operator receiving the product:

• an indication of each of the food ingredients which is produced from GMOs.
• in the case of products for which no list of ingredients exists, an indication that the product is produced from GMOs.

Operators shall have in place systems and standardised procedures to allow the holding of information specified above, for a period of 5 years from the transaction, of the operator by whom and the operator to whom the products have been made available.

Further information