In the organization of National Institute of Biology and Slovenian Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP), 14th of November, a workshop “New challenges of detection of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)” was organized. The workshop was dedicated to new information on GMOs, theirs legislation and detection. Dr. Martin Batič (MESP) presented draft proposal, which would enable the member states to decide on restriction and prohibition of planting GMOs on their territory. Political compromise was achieved in EU and currently reconciliation among EU Parliament, Council and European Commission is taking place.

National institute of Biology, being National reference laboratory for detection of GMOs, participated with lectures on current problems on detection and identification of GMOs and work on research projects, dedicated to new approaches of GMO detection. Dr. Iva Hafner (National Institute of Chemistry) has clearly presented synthetic biology, which is under discussion at EU level, regarding human health and environmental risk, as well as at international level, where   synthetic biology under current GMO legislation is discussed. In the workshop also practical aspects of seeds and plants sampling, as well as sampling at the laboratory level was presented. The Analyses reports were also precisely explained.  The workshop brought together representatives of Slovenian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Administration RS for food safety, veterinary and plant protection and Ministry of finance, Customs administration of Republic of Slovenia.