A coherent structure for GMO monitoring in Europe is still under development. This refers not only to the central level of European institutions but refers also to member state and to the regional regulatory levels. In many member states, biodiversity assessments are not implemented in ways that provide results relevant to GMOs. Standard environmental and agricultural monitoring are not always appropriate for capturing the relevant effects and associating them with GMOs. Methods require further development which is is still “in progress”. One reason for slower implementation may be the regulatory statement that the notifiers are held responsible for this task in financial terms. Notifiers have to cover the relevant expenses either by executing the required tasks or compensating for required activities by the authorities. It seems questionable whether this is appropriate for GMO monitoring as environmental monitoring is also a sovereign responsibility.

The molecular analytical effort of the Central Reference Laboratory together with the European Network of GMO Laboratories ENGL are primarily focused on GMOs. These are the most comprehensive structures established for GMO assessment and are largely institutionalised by the EU as a precondition for efficient regulation. This is reasonable to fulfil sovereign tasks of identifying approved and unapproved GMO presence in a range of imported and manufactured products. A similar network is required for the assessment of anticipated and unanticipated long-term and combinatory effects of GMOs. The necessity of sovereign engagement becomes also apparent in the context of data collection and synthesis requirements. Evaluating completeness, consistency and quality standards of measurements and drawing conclusions have to be done at an administrative level. Therefore, it appears useful that the European Union as well as the member states expand their initiatives in this field – to provide basic data, model-supported synthesis capacities and decision making. To develop such regulatory steps competent authorities will need to be well informed on the scientific rationales for monitoring and prepared to integrate monitoring activities both nationally and internationally.

As a background material for discussion, potential topics for monitoring were systematically assessed. As an overarching criterion for systematization, the hierarchical structure of biological organization was used. Potential monitoring targets on the level of molecular interactions, the level of individual organisms, populations, ecosystems and landscapes were discussed. Methodological approaches suitable for these levels of biological organization were compiled. This gives an overview how to assess undesirable effects as soon as they might arise. Monitoring of genetically modified organisms was thus characterized as a task that requires competence in various fields of scientific expertise going well beyond a specific discipline (like e.g. molecular detection only). Furthermore, an overview of institutions and relevant authorities on the EU and member state level was compiled and is available.