L 200/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 30.7.2002 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 24 July 2002 establishing guidance notes supplementing Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modi- fied organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC (notified under document number C(2002) 2715) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/623[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parlia- ment and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC ('), and in parti- cular the first paragraph of Annex II thereto, Whereas: (1) Under Directive 2001/18/EC, Member States and, where appropriate, the Commission must ensure that potential adverse effects on human health and the environment, which may occur directly or indirectly through gene transfer from genetically modified organisms (hereinafter GMOs) to other organisms, are accurately assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with Annex II to that Directive. () Under Article 6(2)(b) and Article 13(2)(b) of Directive 2001/18/EC, notifications for the release or placing on the market of GMOs must include an environmental risk assessment and the conclusions on the potential environ- mental impact of the release or the placing on the market of those GMOs in accordance with Annex II to that Directive. () OJ L 106, 17.4.2001, p. 1. (3)  Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC should be supple- mented by notes providing detailed guidance on the objective, elements, general principles and methodology of the environmental risk assessment referred to in that Annex. (4)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Committee established under Article 30(1) of Directive 2001/18/EC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The guidance notes set out in the Annex to this Decision shall be used as a supplement to Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 24 July 2002. For the Commission Margot WALLSTROM Member of the Commission