Commenting on the decision of the European Parliament, Ivaylo Popov, coordinator of the direction of Food and Agriculture at „Za Zemyata”, said: "This is another nail in the coffin of genetically modified crops. While not ideal, this new mechanism allows governments to close the door for biotech crops in Europe and to direct agriculture in a more sustainable direction. The public constantly rejected GM food and supports more organic farming and locally produced food. We urge national governments, including the Bulgarian one to use this new power to keep our countries GMO- free"
The cultivation of GM crops in the European Union is a controversial issue for more than 15 years. Currently nine EU countries have imposed bans on MON 810 maize - the only GM crop permitted in Europe. These prohibitions are challenged by the European Commission as well as the biotechnology industry, with the result that many of the national environment ministers support the proposals to strengthen their legal rights to prohibit the cultivation of GM crops. In addition, a decision by the European Court of Justice, which severely limits the existing regulatory instruments of governments.
Za Zemyata, however, are critical to the weaknesses in the new legislation, in particular the option for governments to ask biotechnology companies for permission to impose national bans. An additional concern is that there is a real possibility the current uniform policy against GMOs, which in practice for these years has authorized the cultivation of only one type of GM crop in the EU, to be shattered. According to other organizations, new rules were introduced because of this and are the result of bargaining between the UK Government and the biotech industry.
What is included in the new rules?
The European Parliament passed a law making compromises with the national environment ministers on the most controversial issues
Role of biotech companies. Biotech companies have the first word in the process of deciding on a ban, if a Government uses this option. But governments can also act to prohibit the cultivation of GM crops without the participation of biotech companies. Za Zemyata criticized the idea that sovereign states in their capacity of performing management must request permission from companies that profit from growing GM crops before the imposition of a ban on cultivation of GM crops on their territory.
Which crops can be banned? Governments may prohibit groups of GM crops in certain kind of crops or characteristics of the modifications. For example, all GM maize plants or all herbicide-resistant GM crops. This is a big step forward in the battle to make Europe GMO free zone according to Za Zemyata.
When can GM crops be banned? Both during the authorization process for the EU and each later governments can initiate a ban for the entire duration of the authorization - to ten years. A government can abolish an existing ban without warning.
Impact on the environment. It is uncertain whether the parties will be able to ban crops due to negative impacts on the environment at a regional level. Existing policy evaluates all potential environmental damage in the entire EU. The final text says that the ban can be imposed for environmental reasons, which are "different and complementary risk assessment of EFSA (European Agency for Food Safety)."
European Parliament voted new powers for the governments to impose bans on GM crops
