Both national and international organisations are involved in establishing principles for safety regulations of products and organisms produced under recombinant DNA techniques. In the current evaluation processes of genetically modified food and food ingredients, particular attention is devoted to the safely implications in connection with:
 
 

	intentional or unintentional changes resulting from the genetic modification
	the stability of living modified organisms under intended conditions of use, and the likelihood of genetic transfer.

There are two major approaches;

l. one is based on the assumption that the application of a certain biotechnology bears the potential for specific risks and therefore requires adequate supervision
2. the second approach primarily focuses on the final product and its safety rather than on the biotechnology applied

Slovakia should harmonize, in its own interest, its legislation with the laws of EU countries. The regulatory bodies of the EU are currently preparing a legislative framework for the marketing of food resulting from new technologies. The underlying principle of these regulations is a pre-market human and environmental safety assessment.

Strategic directions:
 

	initiate the elaboration of national biotechnology transfer programmes including transfer of technologies to developing countries;
	develop appropriate administrative rules to promote access to the results of biotechnologies;
	introduce basic standards for testing, importing, exporting and commercial use of living genetically modified organisms;
	designate authorities for biosafety control including the establishment of an early warning system;
	elaborate detailed procedures and measures for risk assessment concerning the release of genetically modified organisms;