Table 1 Main responsibilities and functions of the National Biosafety Technical Committee (CTNBio)

• Issues authorizations necessary for research with GMOs and their derivatives in the country (Biosafety Quality Certificates, authorizations for releases in the environment and others);

• Issues technical opinions on the commercial releases of GMOs, which are binding on other Government agencies;

• Provides technical advisory and advisory support to the CNBS – National Biosafety Council in the formulation of the National Biosafety Policy of GMOs and their derivatives.

• CTNBio deliberates, in a final and definitive instance, on which cases the activity is potentially or effectively causing environment degradation or human/animal health harm.