According to Article 31 (3b) of Directive 2001/18/EC Member States shall establish public registers for recording the location of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) grown under part C (placing on the market). The primary intention is the monitoring of potential adverse environmental effects of such GMOs. This register (GMO location register) was established in February 2005 in Germany by the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). The register records the exact cadastral data and name and characteristics of the GMO in the Internet. The foreseen site(s) shall be notified at least three months ahead of cultivation. Thus the data can be used for national surveillance measures plus informing farmers about GMO cultivation in their neighbourhood in order to support inspection and coexistence measures. We report the first two-year experience with the location register in respect to notification statistics, and public interest.