Bulgaria: to GMO or not to GMO?

12/03/2010

Bloggers stand firmly against the government's effort to ease restrictions on cultivating Genetically Modified Organisms in line with EU legislation.

By Southeast European Blogger for Southeast European Times -- 12/03/10

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek lectures at Sofia University. [Getty Images]

The Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Act has caused a stir in Bulgaria, prompting parliamentary debates and public protests about lifting the country's five-year ban on GMOs.

In mid-January, parliament gave a first reading approval to the GMO Act's amendments proposed by the ruling GERB government, to ease the GMO restrictions and get in line with EU legislation.

However, by early February, GERB came under strong pressure from parties across the political spectrum -- as well as NGOs -- regarding the GMO's potential health hazards. The opposition Union of Democratic Forces MPs called for banning GMO crop field trials for vines, wheat, oilseed rape and tobacco.

Caught in a tight spot, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov began campaigning against GMOs while members of his cabinet went the other way. Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov even voted for introducing genetically modified animal feed into EU countries during an EU Council meeting.

In response to the public protests that ensued, Borisov said on Nova TV earlier this month that he and Parliament Speaker Cecka Cacheva guarantee GMOs will not be allowed outside labs, even under threat of EU sanctions.

But European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek further complicated matters during his visit to Bulgaria on March 3rd when he said "it is very hard to reject GMOs altogether".

President Georgi Parvanov responded this week, saying he will veto any amendments lacking strict GMO safeguards. He also said he may call on parliament to hold a national referendum to maintain GMO prohibitions.

So far, five municipalities have been declared GMO-free by local authorities. In addition, genetically modified crops are banned in areas of the National Ecological Network and in a 30-km radius buffer zone around them.

As the legislative battle gears up, Cacheva commissioned public opinion research showing that 71% of Bulgarians believe the GMO risks outweigh any possible benefits. Bloggers are nearly unanimous in agreeing.

Ogy Kovachev wants to show the categorical position of the Bulgarians towards GMOs. "We live in a country in which 70% of the land corresponds to the requirements for ecologically clean agricultural production. Eco-agriculture and eco-tourism are our most profitable strategy for development."

Lydmila Saveva and Borislav Sandov claim the public was defrauded by the government in the "latest, scandalous meeting by the Parliamentary Environment and Water Committee before the GMO Act is put up for a second reading." The two claim that none of the public's five main demands to contain GMSs safely -- given to Cacehva earlier -- were taken into account.

Freedom, Sancho … perceives Buzek's visit as an act of unjustified pressure and recommends Buzek "mind his business … because we are not concerned [by his conclusion] that GMOs help fight hunger in the world".

nadia echoes the collective anxiety that "nobody can prove that GMOs are harmless. If GMO seeds from 'Monsanto' are used and the 30km protective radius is respected ... don't our experts think the other cultures will be affected? What will happen to our ecological products, our yogurt of which we are so proud?"