These Regulations give statutory effect in Ireland to Directive (EU) 2015/412 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in all or part of their territory. The Directive grants Member States more flexibility to decide whether or not they wish to cultivate GMOs on their territory or parts of their territory, either in the course of the authorisation procedure or thereafter, and on grounds which are independent of the measures required under Directive 2001/18/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.
A Member State s reason to limit cultivation may be related to environmental or agricultural policy objectives, or other compelling grounds such as town and country planning, land use, socioeconomic impacts, coexistence and public policy. They may consider matters such as the maintenance and development of agricultural practices which offer a better potential to reconcile production with ecosystem sustainability, or maintenance of local biodiversity, including certain habitats and ecosystems, or certain types of natural and landscape features, as well as specific ecosystem functions and services.