GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS AND LEGAL REGULATION OF THEIR USE ENGLISH RESUME This thesis aims to give a complete insight into the framework and problem questions arising in connection with legal regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The use of genetic modifications as one of modern techniques of biotechnology has spread widely during last fifty years. This technology has brought many advances. On the other hand as any new technology it represents potential adverse effects on biological diversity and possible risks to human health. At the beginning there is a brief introduction into GMOs from historical and technical point of view. Then I dealt with biosafety measures adopted at global, regional and national levels. The main principles of environmental law take part afterwards. I am focusing mainly on prevention and precautionary principle. International law relating to the GMOs consists of soft law documents. There is only one exception - Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety focusing on transboundary movement. The Law of EU comprises of Regulations, Directives and Recommendations. Notifications, approvals, risk assessment and monitoring are consequential. The Czech law has been harmonized according to the law of the European Communities. Act no. 78/2004 Coll., on the use of GMOs and genetic...

Magistro baigiamajame darbe atskleista, kad daugelis respondentų yra neapsisprendę dėl savo pozicijos GMO gamybos bei naudojimo atžvilgiu, tačiau beveik trečdalis asmenų GMO gamybai bei naudojimui nepritaria. Dauguma gyventojų mano, kad GMO ne tik kenkia žmogaus sveikatai, bet ir yra pavojingi, taip pat kenkia aplinkai, o GMO turinčių produktų naudojimas gali negrįžtamai pakeisti genetinį žmogaus kodą ir augalų bei gyvūnų populiacijose gali sukelti negrįžtamus mutacinius pokyčius. Vis dėlto GMO produkciją kai kurie gyventojai linkę naudoti dėl mažesnės jų kainos ir ilgesnio vartojimo galiojimo termino. Nors kai kurie respondentai ir buvo įsitikinę GMO teikiama nauda bei tolimesniu GMO gamybos bei naudojimo plitimu ateityje, tačiau beveik visi respondentai buvo įsitikinę ir tuo, jog GMO gamyba bei naudojimu labiausiai suinteresuotos yra kuo didesnio pelno siekiančios monopolinės kampanijos. Vienareikšmiškai galima teigti, jog nors gyventojai apie GMO informacijos daugiausiai ir gauna iš televizijos laidų, pokalbių su draugais pažįstamais ar giminaičiais bei iš spaudos leidinių arba naršydami internete, tačiau tos informacijos kiekis yra nepakankamas ir daugiau kaip pusė respondentų norėtų, jog informacijos apie GMO būtų pateikiama daugiau. / The Master’s final paper on GMO discovered that the majority of respondents have no strong opinion about production and use of GMO, but one third of responses on production and use of GMO were negative. Many people consider that GMO not only negatively affect human health, but also damage environment. Moreover, eating genetically-modified food can irreversibly change human’s genetic code as well as irreversible mutations in plants’ and animals’ populations. However, some people tend to use GM foods because they are cheaper and can be stored longer than other foods. Even though some of the respondents see benefits of GMO production and usage, almost all of the respondents claim that genetically engineered products interest mostly large companies that are seeking to profit from GMO. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that people learn about GMO from mass media and communicating with friends and relatives mostly, but they also admit the lack of credible information on GMO. More than a half of the respondents would like to receive more information about genetically modified organisms.