# Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2013 of 3 April 2013 on applications for authorisation of genetically modified food and feed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulations (EC) No 641/2004 and (EC) No 1981/2006 (Text with EEA relevance), Division 2.1: Insertion of marker genes and other nucleic acid(s) sequences not essential to achieve the desired trait

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

In order to facilitate the risk assessment, the applicant shall endeavour to minimise the presence of inserted nucleic acid(s) sequences not essential to achieve the desired trait.
During the process of genetic modification of plants and other organisms, marker genes are often used to facilitate the selection and identification of genetically modified cells, containing the gene of interest inserted into the genome of the host organism, among the vast majority of untransformed cells. The applicant shall carefully select such marker genes and Article 4(2) of Directive 2001/18/EC shall be respected. Against that background, the applicant shall therefore aim to develop GMOs without the use of antibiotic resistance marker genes.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2013/503/annex/II/division/I/division/2/division/2.1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2013-503/annex-II/division-I/division-2/division-2.1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

