12.—(1) Subject to the following paragraphs, a person shall not undertake an activity involving genetic modification of organisms other than micro-organisms unless he has submitted to the competent authority a notification informing it of his intention to do so and containing the information specified in Part III of Schedule 6.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an activity involving genetic modification of organisms where that genetic modification results in a genetically modified organism (other than a micro-organism) which poses no greater risk to humans than its unmodified parental organism.
(3) Within 10 working days of the competent authority receiving a notification submitted in accordance with paragraph (1), the Executive shall send to the notifier an acknowledgement of receipt.
(4) A person shall not undertake any activity referred to in paragraph (1), unless at least 45 days, or such shorter period of time as the competent authority may approve in writing, have elapsed since the date on which the acknowledgement was sent in accordance with paragraph (3) and the competent authority has not within the said period of 45 days or the shorter period of time approved by the competent authority, as the case may be, informed the notifier that he shall not undertake the activity in question.