February 27, 2006

 

Romania's ban on GM soy makes little difference, critics say
 

 

Romania's announcement in February banning genetically modified (GM) soy cultures beginning in 2007 will be ineffectual to the EU market and detrimental to its own farmers, according to ecologists.

 

Romania is the largest producer of soy in Europe and the only European producer of genetically modified soy.  Representatives of ecological groups say that these cultures should have been forbidden long before Romania was scheduled to enter the EU.

 

Two-thirds of Romanian soy cultures are genetically modified, the seeds sold by American biotechnology companies Monsato Co. and Pioneer 10 years ago.

 

Romania announced in early February that modified soy cultures would be stopped by Feb 1, 2007 to comply with EU laws.

 

Although it is still allowed this year, producers of all GM crops are required to indicate the presence of GM materials on food product labels from Jun 30. 

 

Ecological groups such as Greenpeace said producers would have started developing traditional cultures earlier if the authorities had given earlier warning.

 

The current traditional cultures would have been contaminated with GMO's after Romania's EU accession, a spokeswoman said. 

 

Ecological groups believe that GM cultures are impossible to stop because of artificial breeding, natural dispersion of seeds and illegal trade.

 

The government said that additional regulations for the soy cultures are being developed and compensation for their losses could be given.

 

Soy cultivators who had been using GM seeds and gave up costlier natural seeds said that the latest rules will cause losses to soy producers.

 

Romanian consumers have been using imported edible oil from transgenic soy for over a decade.