ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Wednesday began a combined debate on two bills banning the import, production and distribution of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Wednesday began a
combined debate on two bills banning the import, production and
distribution of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). #L#
Although agreed that GMOs use has to be minutely regulated, in the
debate the benches voiced objections to the two bills.
The opposition Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) is proposing a ban on
GMOs import, production and distribution, while the ruling
coalition's Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) is suggesting a temporary
ban until the issue has been appropriately legislated, in line with
international conventions and European practice.
Croatia can be competitive only by producing ecologically healthy
food, so it must protect production from natural organisms, said
Miroslav Rozic of the HSP, adding that once they spread, GMOs could
not be eliminated.
Marijana Petir of the HSS dismissed concern that a temporary GMOs
ban might strain relations with the World Trade Organisation,
citing the example of New Zealand, which she said requested and was
granted by the world body a two-year moratorium on the subject.
Petir also cited the example of Austria, which conducted a GMOs
referendum, and mentioned the notion of a GMOs-free Alpe-Adria
region.
The HSP and HSS benches accused the government of inertia, and said
the GMOs issue must be resolved with one and not three laws as
proposed by the cabinet.
The Libra bench said the HSP notion of absolutely banning anything
to do with GMOs was unacceptable.
The Social Liberals suggested the HSP bill needed fine-tuning.
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