ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - The government-sponsored bill on the protection of nature, which, among other things, stipulates that the government can ban the import of genetically modified organisms and products, was endorsed in its first
reading mostly by the benches of the ruling coalition in parliament on Wednesday.
ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - The government-sponsored bill on the
protection of nature, which, among other things, stipulates that
the government can ban the import of genetically modified organisms
and products, was endorsed in its first reading mostly by the
benches of the ruling coalition in parliament on Wednesday. #L#
The bill regulates the systematic and integral protection of nature
and the preservation of biological and landscape diversity.
Changes in the bill refer to the transfer, limited use in the
environment and sale of GMOs.
The bill also enables the government to ban, at any given moment,
the import of such food and organisms in case of a lack of scientific
information and knowledge about the scope of their potential
negative effects on human health, environment and biological
diversity.
The Croatian Democratic Union believes that the bill is too liberal
in the segments referring to genetically modified food and products
while in some other segments it is too restrictive.
The Social Liberals supported the bill, stating though that the
regulations referring to the general measures of protection of
nature are too restrictive. As an example they quoted a regulation
which even bans riding and parking bicycles outside settlements,
roads and lanes.
The Croatian Peasant Party also believes that the bill is too
liberal towards GMOs and proposes its own bill which requests a
temporary ban on their use and sale.
The parliament resumes its session on Thursday. Tomorrow's agenda
includes changes to the Maritime Code, the final bill on foreign
citizens and some other bills.
(hina) rml sb