The new law is presented as a way for granting the governments more sovereignty in decisions for banning from growing GM cultures. However, the current proposals give the biotechnological companies the legal right to decide whether to allow such bans. If they refuse, the governments will be forced to base their arguments again on unclear and non-scientific legal grounds, on the basis of which to ban the GM cultures and thus to open the door for legal proceedings and enormous sanctions.[1">.
Ivaylo Popov, coordinator of the campaign against GMO from the “For the Earth” association comments: “Democracy is insulted when such companies like Monsanto are granted a legal status in case of each decision for ban of their products. The governments should be able to ban the unwanted and risky GM cultures without the necessity of authorization by companies which make money of them.” and added “The member countries which are traditionally against GMO, among which is also Bulgaria, should not be deluded into thinking that the current proposal is a step forward in their freedom to impose bans for growing GMO. On the contrary, since it does not grant the governments solid legal grounds for a ban of GMO, they must either reject it or require more ambitious amendments.”
“For the Earth” association appeals to the national governments that real authority should be given to them in order to keep their countries without GMO and to protect the consumer choice. At least the proposal that the governments should ask the biotechnological companies for permission for a ban should be rejected and the legal grounds for a ban of GM cultures must be amended.
[1"> A briefing of the Friends of the Earth Europe "The cup with the poison", April 2014 (eng)