Experimental releases of genetically modified organisms require federal authorisation. The requirements are laid down in the Release Ordinance. Applications for the release of organisms are submitted to the SECB for its opinion and assessment of possible risks to humans and the environment. 

The Release Ordinance, which the SECB helped to draw up, came into force on 1 November 1999, and has since formed the legal foundation for assessing experimental releases. The SECB has so far assessed the following applications for the release of a genetically modified organism:

Wheat

In January 2001 the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) submitted an application for an experimental release of genetically modified wheat in Lindau to what was then called the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL). The wheat had been modified to produce a KP4 protein, which gave it resistance to wheat bunt, a fungal infection. 

In several Statements, the SECB concluded that the small-scale experiment did not pose any significant risk to humans and the environment, but linked the performance of the experiment to various conditions.

SECB Statements on the experimental release of wheat by the ETH Zurich

Maize

In 1999, the company Plüss Staufer AG planned to release transgenic maize for experimental purposes at two locations in the Commune of Oftringen. The objective of the experiment was to test the efficacy of the herbicide glufosinate on T25 maize.

In its Statement of 03.03.1999 the SECB concluded that performing the experimental releases did not pose any foreseeable risk to the environment (in German):

Potatoes

In 1999 the Federal Research Station for Plant Production Changins (RAC) wanted to release transgenic potatoes in the Communes of Duillier and Bullet. The objective of the experiment was to test the potatoes' resistance to Late Blight.

In its Statement of 02.03.1999 the SECB concluded that performing the experimental releases did not pose any foreseeable risk to the environment (in German):