post-market environmental monitoring of GM plants
Monitoring of the effects of a new product (e.g. a GM plant) following its release onto the market. This may reveal adverse effects which were not predicted in the risk assessment conducted prior to market release
Post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of GM plants is the process of checking genetically modified (GM) crops after they have been approved and placed on the market to make sure they don’t cause unexpected harm to the environment. This can include looking for effects on other plants, animals, soil, or ecosystems, and detecting any changes that weren’t identified during the original safety assessment.
EFSA supports PMEM by providing scientific guidance on how to design monitoring programs, reviewing data submitted by companies, and assessing whether any observed effects require follow-up action. This ensures that GM crops remain safe for the environment throughout their commercial use.