Contained Use of GMOs and Pathogens

​In Belgium, “contained use” is defined as any activity in which organisms are genetically modified or in which genetically modified and/or pathogenic organisms are cultured, stored, transported, destroyed, disposed of or used in any other way, and for which specific containment measures are used to limit their contact with, and to provide a high level of safety for, the general population and the environment​.

The relevant European legislation has been transposed at Regional level as a part of the Regional Environmental laws for classified installations. The scope of the Belgian regional legislation is broader than the scope of the EU Directive since it includes, in addition to genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and pathogenic organisms.

• Wallonia
• Flemish Region
• ​​Brussels-Capital Region
• Historical perspective (opens in a new window)
• Certification and exemptions (opens in a new window)

Wallonia

Current biosafety legislative framework:

• Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 4 juillet 2002 déterminant les conditions sectorielles relatives aux utilisations confinées d'organismes génétiquement modifiés ou pathogènes (Official Journal 21.09.2002, p.41711) (PDF file, in French, German, and Dutch)

This Decree has been modified in 2008 by:

• Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 5 juin 2008 modifiant l’arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 4 juillet 2002 déterminant les conditions sectorielles relatives aux utilisations confinées d’organismes génétiquement modifiés ou pathogènes. (Official Journal 26.06.2008, p.32957) (PDF file, in French, German, and Dutch)
• Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 5 juin 2008 modifiant l’arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 4 juillet 2002 relatif à la procédure et à diverses mesures d’exécution du décret du 11 mars 1999 relatif au permis d’environnement (Official Journal 30.06.2008, p.33316) (PDF file, in French, German, and Dutch)​

The biosafety legislation is included in a general legislative framework related to the environmental permit and supported by the 

• Décret du 11 mars 1999 relatif au permis d'environnement​​ (external link, in French)

Flemish Region

Current biosafety legislative framework:

• the Decree of 17 December 1997 approving the Cooperation Agreement of 25 April 1997 between the Federal State and the Regions on the administrative and scientific coordination concerning biosafety,
• the Decree of 25 April 2014 on the environmental permit,
• the Decree of 5 April 1995 concerning general provisions relating to environmental policy (DABM),

and their implementing decrees:

1. The notification and authorization procedure from Chapter 1.5 of VLAREM II, zie https://navigator.emis.vito.be/mijn-navigator?woId=69843;
2. The sectoral conditions of Section 5.51 of VLAREM II, Part 5, Chapter 5, zie https://navigator.emis.vito.be/mijn-navigator?woId=9961
   • Annex 5.51.3. Principles underlying the biosafety analysis referred to in Article 5.51.3.1, zie https://navigator.emis.vito.be/detail?woId=10123
   • Annex 5.51.4. Containment and other protection measures, zie https://navigator.emis.vito.be/detail?woId=10124
   • Annex 5.51.5 Information to be provided to the competent authority in case of accidents, zie https://navigator.emis.vito.be/detail?woId=18280
3. The fee for a dossier in Chapter 5 of Title V of DABM, zie https://navigator.emis.vito.be/mijn-navigator?woId=65090.

​​Brussels-Capital Region

Current biosafety legislative framework:

• Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale du 8 novembre 2001 relatif à l'utilisation confinée d'organismes génétiquement modifiés et/ou pathogènes et au classement des installations concernées. (Official Journal 26.10.2002, p.7209) (PDF file, in Dutch and French)​

The biosafety legislation is included in a general legislative framework related to the environmental permit​ (external link, in French and Dutch)