Classification of organisms

Within the GMO regulations, microorganisms are classified into four pathogenicity classes. This classification is based on the properties of the micro­organism and the extent to which it can cause disease in humans, animals or plants.

Class 1 comprises non-pathogenic (apathogenic) micro-organisms. Classes 2 to 4 comprise micro-organisms that are increasingly pathogenic, with class 4 micro-organisms often causing very serious, potentially fatal disease. Each pathogenicity class is linked to a contain­ment level. Depending on the type of classified orga­nism, these are included in Annex 2 (non-patho­ge­nic organisms) or Annex 4 (pathogenic organisms) of the GMO Regulation.

Every year, COGEM publishes new overview lists of organisms it has classified (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, single-celled and multicellular organisms). For plants, it also maintains an overview of the contain­ment measures required for experiments with GM plant species. These overview lists are translated in English, and can be downloaded in the publications section.