Post-release monitoring: the Brazilian system, its aims and requirements for information

The Brazilian National Biosafety Committee approved in 2011 a new post release monitoring system for environmental releases of genetically modified organisms. It has a number of novel features in comparison with other established or proposed systems. The new system also allows the proponent to ask for monitoring exemption. General surveillance forms the basis of the monitoring system, similar to the European model, but differs markedly in the way it operates. While the European proposal is based on monitoring measurable variables extracted from environmental observations, from baselines previously established for multiple protection targets, the Brazilian system uses direct alerts of damage, without the aid of baseline values. The strength of the Brazilian form of monitoring is the possibility of generating an information network with the effective participation of many actors from the monitored area. A network constituted by highly qualified members, as proposed elsewhere, is too complex and unrealistic in Brazil and in many other countries. In conclusion, the Brazilian monitoring system is flexible and can be adjusted to the Brazilian reality over the next years, as a response to the ever growing experience in monitoring. It also meets the demands of the Brazilian society for transparency, rational use of resources, opportunity for national companies, and food and environmental biosafety.