The German Biosafety Clearing-House (German BCH) is a part of the globally linked Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH). The Federal Republic of Germany is an official Party to the Protocol. The German BCH was established to promote the exchange of information and to increase the understanding of the biological safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The German BCH links basic information regarding the biological safety of GMOs in Germany, and makes this information available to both the general and expert public, such as applicants, operators, importers and exporters. The German BCH is also aimed at the representatives of the competent authorities of the other Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Protocol.
The site offers information regarding the German legal framework of technology, describes the administrative procedures of deliberate releases and placing on the market of LMOs.
Moreover, the website offers access to databases with information about field trials in Germany (BVL database on environmental releases, German Location Register) and gives information on the risk assessment of oncogenes, organisms, vectors and plasmids as well as cell lines that are used under conditions of contained use in Germany.