The new GMO rules were passed by the EU Council on 2 March.
ADVERTISEMENT
These new rules allow members states to decide whether or not they want genetically modified crops (GMO) grown on their land.
"This is in line with the subsidiarity principle and respects citizens' and farmers' preferences", said Janis Duklavs, the Latvian minister for agriculture and President of the Council.
Two options are now available to member states that wish to prohibit the cultivation of a GMO on their land. When a company applies to grow crops on the territory of a member state, the country can ask the applicant to state in their proposal that GMO cannot be grown in all or part of the country. This step can be taken by a member state without providing a reason why it wishes to prohibit or ban the GMO.
ADVERTISEMENT
If the company refuses to adjust its application according to the request, the second option for the member state is to ban or restrict the cultivation of the crop. However, the country will have to present a reason why the GMO crop cannot be grown. Grounds can range from environmental or agricultural policy objectives to socio-economic impact.
The new rules also state that member states in which GMOs are cultivated must take care to avoid cross-border contamination into neighbouring countries where they are banned. This does not apply if certain conditions make these measures unnecessary.
Under the old rules, member states could only provisionally ban or restrict the use of a GMO on their territory if they had evidence that the organism presented a risk to human health and the environment, or in the case of an emergency.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
These new rules allow members states to decide whether or not they want genetically modified crops (GMO) grown on their land.
"This is in line with the subsidiarity principle and respects citizens' and farmers' preferences", said Janis Duklavs, the Latvian minister for agriculture and President of the Council.
Two options are now available to member states that wish to prohibit the cultivation of a GMO on their land. When a company applies to grow crops on the territory of a member state, the country can ask the applicant to state in their proposal that GMO cannot be grown in all or part of the country. This step can be taken by a member state without providing a reason why it wishes to prohibit or ban the GMO.
If the company refuses to adjust its application according to the request, the second option for the member state is to ban or restrict the cultivation of the crop. However, the country will have to present a reason why the GMO crop cannot be grown. Grounds can range from environmental or agricultural policy objectives to socio-economic impact.
The new rules also state that member states in which GMOs are cultivated must take care to avoid cross-border contamination into neighbouring countries where they are banned. This does not apply if certain conditions make these measures unnecessary.
Under the old rules, member states could only provisionally ban or restrict the use of a GMO on their territory if they had evidence that the organism presented a risk to human health and the environment, or in the case of an emergency.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS