March 22, 2010

Source: Sofia News Agency via Black Sea Biotechnology Association

On March 18th the Bulgarian Parliament has passed amendments to the GMO Act which mean that GM crops will not be allowed to be grown in the country.

After a number of days of debate Bulgaria’s MPs finally passed the strongest possible amendments which although they do not include a total ban on GM crops, make it impossible for farmers to grow them commercially or in trials. Bulgaria has thus become the first country in Europe to introduce such stringent laws for all forms of GM crops.

The long-debated articles 79 and 80 of the amended GMO Act were finally voted on and passed on Thursday: They ban the planting of GM crops within the boundaries of protected areas in the Protected Areas Act and within the protected areas of national ecological zone under the Biodiversity Law.

GM crops will not be allowed to be grown within 30 km of the protected areas, within 10 km of bee hives or within 7 km of organic farmland – leading to an overall ban countrywide in practice.

Website: http://www.bsbanet.org

Published: March 22, 2010