The Genetic Manipulation Regulations 1989

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires— “approved” means approved for the time being in writing by the Health and Safety Executive for the purposes of these Regulations; “genetic manipulation” means the propagation of combinations of heritable material by the insertion of that material, prepared by whatever means outside a cell or organism, into a cell or organism in which it does not occur naturally, either—

(a) directly; or

(b) into a virus, microbial plasmid or other vector system which can then be incorporated in the cell or organism; “genetic manipulation safety committee” means a committee established under regulation 6(2); “intentional introduction into the environment” means the intentional introduction into the environment (that is outside provision for containment) of a live cell or organism which was produced or modified by genetic manipulation, in vitro cell fusion or other in vitro technique, to form combinations of heritable material which do not occur naturally in that cell or organism; “organism” means any biological entity capable of replication (whether microscopic or not); “pathogen” means any of the following—

(a) an organism which falls into one of the hazard groups numbered 2, 3 and 4 in Schedule 1;

(b) an animal pathogen within the meaning of Article 3 of the Importation of Animal Pathogens Order 1980(1); or

(c) a plant pest within the meaning of Article 3 of the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1987(2).

(2) In these Regulations a reference to “an activity involving genetic manipulation” shall be taken as a reference to an activity involving—

(a) the construction or modification of a cell or organism by genetic manipulation;

(b) the use of a cell or organism constructed or modified by genetic manipulation; or

(c) intentional introduction into the environment,but shall not include a reference to the supply or use of a cell or organism as a finished product for routine use if the construction or modification of that cell or organism by genetic manipulation has been notified under regulation 5.

(3) In these Regulations, references to “containment levels” and to “good large-scale practice” shall be treated as references to those terms as further described in the method of risk assessment approved for the purpose of regulation 6(1).

(4) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

(a) a reference to a numbered regulation or Schedule is a reference to the regulation or Schedule in these Regulations so numbered; and

(b) a reference to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph so numbered in the regulation or Schedule in which that reference appears.Meaning of “work” and “at work”

(1)

S.I. 1980/1212.

(2)

S.I. 1987/1758.