The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2002

7.  After regulation 24 there shall be inserted the following regulation, namely—

“Information not to be included in the register

24A.— (1) No information shall be included in the register if and so long as, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the inclusion in the register of that information, or information of that description, would be contrary to the interests of national security.

(2) For the purpose of securing the exclusion from the register of information to which paragraph (1) applies, the Secretary of State may give to the competent authority directions—

(a) specifying information, or descriptions of information, to be excluded from the register; or

(b) specifying descriptions of information to be referred to the Secretary of State for his determination.

(3) No information referred to the Secretary of State pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) shall be included in the register until the Secretary of State determines that it should be so included.

(4) The competent authority shall notify the Secretary of State of any information it excludes from the register in accordance with directions given to it under paragraph (2).

(5) A person may give a written notice to the Secretary of State—

(a) specifying information which appears to that person to be information to which paragraph (1) may apply; and

(b) indicating its apparent nature.

(6) If a person gives a written notice pursuant to paragraph (5), at the same time he shall give written notice to the competent authority that he has done so.

(7) No information notified pursuant to paragraph (5) shall be included in the register until the Secretary of State has determined that it shall be so included.

(8) In this regulation, “the register” means the register maintained by the competent authority in accordance with regulation 24(2).”.