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European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EURL GMFF)

Guidance documents

The EURL GMFF, in line with its dual mandate under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and Regulation (EU) 2017/625, issues guidance documents meant to provide support to GMO testing laboratories and to applicants for GM food and feed authorisation. The guidance documents below are organised into sections on:

  • data and control samples submission for applicants under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 or other relevant EU GMO legislation,
  • criteria for acceptance of the methods, their verification and validation,
  • parameters for verifying the appropriateness of GMO certified reference materials (CRMs) and conversion factors.

Applications for method validation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003

Definition of minimum performance requirements for analytical methods of GMO testing - Part 1 (inserted / modified 20/04/2015), document valid from 20/10/2015
English
(748 kB - PDF)
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Definition of minimum performance requirements for analytical methods of GMO testing - Part 2, document valid from 11/04/2023
English
(977 kB - PDF)
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Format to provide information on GM detection methods and related samples (inserted / modified 24/04/2017)
English
(86 kB - DOC)
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Template protocol format for submission of a GMO specific real-time PCR system (inserted / modified 10/02/2015)
English
(94 kB - DOC)
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Explanatory notes to applicants (Reg (EU) No 120/2014) (inserted / modified 16/05/2023)
English
(273 kB - PDF)
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Explanatory notes to applicants (Reg. EU No. 503/2013) (inserted / modified 24/04/2017)
English
(479 kB - PDF)
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Note to the applicants on the type and nature of control samples according to Reg. (EC) No 1829/2003 (inserted / modified 30/01/2008)
English
(31 kB - PDF)
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Technical guidance document from the European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed on the implementation of Commission Regulation (EU) No 619/2011
English
(97 kB - PDF)
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Explanatory notes to applicants (Reg. EC No. 641/2004)
English
(118 kB - PDF)
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Guideline for the submission of DNA sequences derived from genetically modified organisms and associated annotations within the framework of Directive 2001/18/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (inserted / modified 24/04/2017)
English
(441 kB - PDF)
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Form for the submission of DNA sequences and associated annotations to the European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed or EFSA, according to appropriate existing EU legislation (Annex 01) (inserted / modified 24/04/2017)
English
(1,4 MB - PDF)
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Instructions to organise the sequencing information and data submitted in accordance to the 'Guideline' - Annex 02 (inserted / modified 24/04/2017)
English
(64 kB - PDF)
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Instructions to organise the sequencing information and data submitted in accordance to the 'Guideline' - Annex 02 supporting info (inserted / modified 24/04/2017)
English
(8 kB - ZIP)
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Method validation and verification

Description of the EURL GMFF validation process (inserted / modified 24/04/2017)
English
(593 kB - PDF)
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Verification of analytical methods for GMO testing when implementing interlaboratory validated methods - version 2 (inserted / modified 13/02/2018)
English
(1,7 MB - PDF)
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Verification of analytical methods for GMO testing when implementing interlaboratory validated methods - version 2 - Supplementary information (inserted / modified 13/02/2018)
English
(751 kB - ZIP)
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Overview on the detection, interpretation and reporting on the presence of unauthorised genetically modified materials
English
(2,74 MB - PDF)
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Guidance document on Measurement Uncertainty for GMO Testing Laboratories - 3rd Edition
English
(2,13 MB - PDF)
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CRMs and conversion factors

Workflow for CRM sample and certificate check by the EURL GMFF in the frame of the authorisation to place GMFF on the market - Version 2 (inserted/modified 13/12/2021)
English
(172 kB - PDF)
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Parameters and acceptance criteria to verify the appropriateness of GMO certified reference materials - Version 2 (inserted / modified 02/12/2019)
English
(85 kB - PDF)
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Application note 1: Use of the harmonised conversion factors to transform PCR results from the DNA copy number ratio domain into the mass fraction domain (modified 27/10/2021)
English
(546 kB - PDF)
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Conversion factors (CF) for certified references materials (CRM) (version 11 - 02/04/2024)
English
(86 kB - PDF)
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