ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - Croatian Agriculture and Forestry Minister never approved one licence for either production or import of genetically modified organisms (GMO). It should be seen if there were cases of smuggling, which is
another matter that should be treated as a criminal act, deputy agriculture minister Tomislav Ledic stated before the Croatian Sabor on Wednesday.
ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - Croatian Agriculture and Forestry Minister
never approved one licence for either production or import of
genetically modified organisms (GMO). It should be seen if there
were cases of smuggling, which is another matter that should be
treated as a criminal act, deputy agriculture minister Tomislav
Ledic stated before the Croatian Sabor on Wednesday. #L#
He added that currently Croatia did not allow the imports of food
that contained more than 0.1 per cent of GMO substances which is the
level allowed in the European Union.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Ledic, who participated in
the afternoon's parliamentary discussion on GMO products, pointed
out that agreements with the WTO were binding but Croatia had enough
space to prepare itself to minimise the risk of GMO food.
When the three bills concerning GMO products are adopted as
proposed by the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian Party of
Rights (HSP) and the Government, it will give Croatia one year more
to ban GMO products which is in line with HSS' proposal for a
temporary ban on GMO products, Ledic said.
Despite objections that legislation to ban GMO products should be
contained in one bill the Government forwarded three bills to the
Sabor.
Ledic pointed out that it would be best that everyone treated the
problem of GMO products from their own stance depending on the
product, i.e. from the aspect of imports or health.
MP Tonci Tadic spoke on behalf of HSP objecting to such a proposal
because in that case no-one would be responsible. He stressed that
the only objection, which the HSP did not have, related to
scientific research of GMO products for medical purposes.
Marijana Petir, who spoke on behalf of HSS, pointed to the dangers
that GMO food could cause allergies and other grave conditions of
people.
She believed that this was a moral and ethical question and that
this sort of food should be clearly marked.
HSP proposed that imports, production and market placements of GMO
products should be banned completely while the HSS believes the ban
should be of a temporary nature until appropriate legislation can
be adopted in line with international conventions and European
practise.
(hina) sp ms