In principle, the seed certification quality system prevents contamination of the seed, regardless of its nature, and guarantees comprehensive traceability of all production steps in seed production, from the initial seed to the marketing of the ready-to-sow seed to the end consumer.

Recognition

The requirements for these tests are laid down in the methods for seed and varieties in accordance with § 5 of the Seed Act for the technical implementation of seed law and must correspond to the current state of science and technology and, where applicable, the standardized international methods for seed testing.

The scope of the examination for quality testing depends on the current availability of methods published/validated at EU level and the availability of certified reference material.

• The "EU Database of Reference Methods for GMO Analysis" is published on the website of the European Union Reference Laboratory (EU-RL GMFF) of the Joint Research Center of the EU Commission at http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/gmomethods/.
• Entries, especially on screening methods, can also be found on EUginius (EUropean GMO INItiative for a Unified Database System) at https://euginius.eu/euginius/pages/home.jsf .

The screening elements listed below are accepted in the BAES seed certification procedure, whereby GM lines not covered by the screening must also be analyzed using event-specific methods.

• Maize test parameters:
  Screening elements: 35S/NOS-duplex, AgroBorder II
  Event-specific methods: Maize-REN-00038-3(LY038), Maize-DAS-40278-9, Corn-VCO-01981-5
  From February 2025: Maize-MON-94804-4, Maize-DP-202216-6, Maize-DP-915635-4
• Analysis parameters soybean:
  Screening elements: 35S/NOS-duplex, CTP2-CP4EPSPS gene sequence, pat gene sequence, AgroBorder II
  Event-specific methods: Soja-DP-305423-1, Soja-BPS-CV127-9
• Test parameter rapeseed:
  Screening elements: 35S/NOS-duplex, CTP2-CP4EPSPS gene sequence, bar gene sequence, pat gene sequence,
  Event-specific method: rapeseed-DP-073496-4, rapeseed-LBFLFK-L1, rapeseed-LBFLFK-L2, rapeseed MON 94100-2

Alternative screening strategies or elements, provided they cover the required scope of testing, may be used after consultation with the BAES. It should be noted that other detection systems than those mentioned (e.g. for 35S-see EU-RL homepage: method QL-ELE-00-012) may require further/other event-specific procedures.

Submitted test reports on the 2024 harvest product, which do not correspond to the current state of science and technology and, if applicable, the standardized international methods for seed testing, cannot be evaluated as initial testing due to substantial deficiencies (according to the Seed Genetic Engineering Ordinance and the methods for seeds and varieties thereto).

If you have any questions about the testing methodology or alternative screening methods, please contact saatgut@baes.gv.at.

Monitoring

The Federal Office for Food Safety (BAES) has been carrying out a GMO monitoring system for seeds that is specific to Austria since 2001. The implementation of precautionary measures such as the strict removal of non-variety-identical plants and thus potential GM plants in seed propagation stocks or the performance of monitoring audits at seed producers, as well as the constant evaluation and review of the measures taken, have led to a highly sensitive quality system for the prevention of GMO contamination in Austrian seed production.
The results of this monitoring are published annually. Below you will find the reports from previous years.