The Coalition “For the Nature in Bulgaria” considers that the harmonization is necessary but it can’t be an end in itself and cannot be a justification for one-sided decisions which will bring about to the pollution for all and irreversibly of Bulgarian agricultural land and nature. Directive 2001/18 provides the basis frame according to which every individual member country formulates its own policy in accordance with its national interests. Our position is that Bulgaria must harmonize the GMO law implementing the “case by case” approach, which means consideration of every individual case for GMO release in the environment (GM plants cultivation). Abiding by this principle Bulgaria can prohibit the MON 810 maize hybrid in BulgariaМОН 810 – the only one allowed on the EU territory. In this way our country will join the group of EU member states which have prohibited this hybrid and hold a principled position fro limitation of GMO. These are Germany, France, Austria, Greece, Hungary, and Luxemburg. After 13 years of GM crops cultivation there is categorical evidence for the impossibility for the joint existence of GM and non-GM crops.
“The non-advising of the NGO representatives, members of the Consultative Commission On Genetically Modified Organisms at the Ministry of Environment and Water brought about the non-existence of any preliminary public discussion on this especially important issue affecting not only the present but also the future generations, the health, economy and nature”, said Dr. Svetla Nikolova. It was the NGO representatives, members of the Consultative Commission, who were not invited a single time to the meetings for the discussing of the amendments to the GMO law.
For contacts:
Svetla Nikolova, agrolink@agrolink.org, tel.0888 359 239
Translation: Prolet Ilieva