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Focus on Contamination Risks: EU Field Trials and Reported GM Risks in 2025
Sunset Field, Photo: Federico Respini, Unsplash
A so-called “release trial” refers to a field trial involving GMOs that requires authorisation. Genetically modified plants are assessed and approved for release by the regulatory authority of the respective EU Member State for cultivation for research purposes. Approvals are issued for a specific organism and site for a limited period of time. A release may therefore be officially carried out, but does not necessarily have to take place.
According to the EU register of release trials, 27 experimental releases were approved last year in six European countries and may therefore have been cultivated within the EU. These included five trials involving potatoes in Sweden and Denmark, four trials involving maize in Belgium and Spain, three trials involving rice in Spain and Italy, and one trial involving soya in Spain. A complete overview of proposed and approved GM field trials can be found in the EU Register of Release Trials under Part B notifications (experimental releases) using the “GM Plants” filter. There, details of the exact location of the trial can be viewed. No release trials are currently taking place in Germany.
Although the harvest may not be placed on the market, field trials should also be taken into account when monitoring “Ohne Gentechnik” supply chains, as they can cause GMO carry-over. Without authorisation for the commercial use of the GM plant – which is standard practice in trials – there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding carry-over. Any contamination with plants from the release trial would then be illegal.
Reports on GMOs in the EU Rapid Alert System
The RASFF, a rapid alert system for food and feed in the EU, supports food safety authorities across borders in responding swiftly to health threats caused by food or feed. In 2025, there were ten notifications relating to genetically modified organisms in food and feed:
- GM components were found in the rice of Chinese miso paste on four occasions; further findings were made in Chinese rice products (rice noodles, rice cakes).
- Unauthorised GMOs in animal feed were found in linseed from Ukraine and Russia and in maize from Canada.
- A cereal-based snack from Syria was incorrectly labelled as non-genetically modified.
- Unauthorised GMOs in green papaya from Thailand were seized in Belgium.
If these products are used or processed in VLOG production, particular attention should be paid to analytical testing. Current updates on GMOs can be found via the RASFF search function using the filter "Risk – ‘GMO/novel food’ and ‘genetically modified’".
VLOG provides regular updates on notifications from the EU register of field trials and the RASFF to further improve the safeguarding of “Non-GMO” value chains. Farmers, food manufacturers and certification bodies can use this information to better assess the risks of GMO carry-over in “Non-GMO” value chains and take precautions where necessary. The information is usually published via the VLOG newsletter once a year. Should there be any relevant updates, we will provide additional information.
New VLOG service on EU release trials and the Rapid Alert System