Article 1
1. The Commission shall take a decision on the application for simplified procedures for the deliberate release of genetically modified plants, as required under Article 6 (5) of Directive 90/220/EEC, by reference to the criteria set out in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 and by reference to the sufficient experience and evidence thereof referred to in Article 2. 2. The criteria relating to the characteristics of the recipient plant species shall be as follows: (a) the taxonomic status and the biology (mode of reproduction and pollination, ability to cross with related species), should be well-known, and (b) information should be available on any interactions of particular relevance for the evaluation of risk, involving the recipient plant species and other organisms in agricultural ecosystems or in the experimental release ecosystem, and (c) scientific data should be available on the safety for human health and the environment of experimental releases involving genetically modified plants of the same recipient plant species. 3. The criteria relating to the characteristics of the inserted sequences and their expression products shall be as follows: (a) the inserted sequences and their expression products should be safe for human health and the environment under the conditions of the experimental release, and (b) the inserted sequences should be: - well characterized, and - integrated into the plant nuclear genome. 4. The criterion relating to the characteristics of the field release experiments shall be that whenever necessary, the appropriate practices for the management of risks will be applied during or after the experimental release, to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. 5. The criteria set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 should be applied in every case whereas the criterion set out in paragraph 4 should be taken into account when examining a proposed simplified procedure and applied as appropriate.