2024-02-14 21:30:42
Our position will change upon definitive evidence against or in favor of the regulation, until then our position will remain “abstain”. This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Kiril Vatev, regarding the position of Bulgaria and the planned future actions of the government regarding the proposal for a regulation on plants obtained through certain new genomic techniques (NGT) adopted at the first vote in the European Parliament. It also applies to food and feed produced from them.
The Minister of Agriculture expressed the opinion that it is too early for a sociological survey in our country, because people do not yet distinguish between new genomic techniques and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). “Our society needs reliable and correct information, not manipulative information, in order to be able to orientate correctly,” Vatev pointed out.
“During this time, the whole of Europe is losing market positions because of overly ambitious green policies. At the same time, it imports soybean meal from both Latin America and the United States to feed the animals,” noted Vatev. He added that the big dispute in the EU about patents – lest, through the new genomic techniques, someone monopolizes certain varieties. “That’s why we explicitly mention that we also want small breeding companies to be able to work,” explained the minister.
He also said that in our country’s written opinion, we have firmly stated that we are “in favor” of noting on the label that the product contains plants produced through NGT.
According to the minister, however, our vote is not decisive for the decision-making at the European level – the weight of our vote is 1.53 percent.
“Instead of us creating varieties and selling, our agriculture is completely dependent on imports. Our own seed production tends to zero – it is from 1 to 3 percent,” commented the minister. He emphasized that this is the direction in which we should think. Because here the battle is for nothing but the market for seeds and planting material.
On February 7, the EP adopted its position for negotiations with member states on the European Commission’s proposal on GMOs, which alter the genetic material of an organism, with 307 votes in favour, 263 votes against and 41 abstentions. The Bulgarian MEPs voted with 11 votes “against”, 6 – “abstained”, and two did not vote.
All plants obtained through NGT are currently subject to the same rules as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). MEPs accept the proposal to have two different categories and two sets of rules for plants obtained through the NGT. Plants obtained through NGT which are considered equivalent to plants obtained through conventional techniques – “category 1 plants obtained through NGT will be exempted from the requirements of GMO legislation. For the rest of plants obtained through NGT (“plants of category 2 obtained through NGT”), stricter requirements will continue to be applied. MEPs want to keep the mandatory labeling of products from plants of category 1 and 2 obtained through NGT, reports BTA.
MEPs also believe that all NGT-derived plants should remain banned in organic production, as their compatibility requires further consideration, and want the Commission to report on how consumers and growers perceive the new techniques, seven years after the rules came into force.
According to Hristo Daskalov (PP-DB), Bulgaria has taken the most correct position in the situation – to refrain.