December 16, 2011

Unlabelled feed with GM contents found in Bulgaria

Genetically modified feed without GMO labelling is found on the Bulgarian market, according to reports of the Public Environmental Centre for Sustainable Development/ PECSD/ in Varna and environmental NGO 'Za Zemiata' (For the Earth).

A team of experts conducted the testing in November with the financial assistance of the EU.

A Varna-based laboratory concluded that five types of feed containing soymeal produced in Bulgaria contain over 5% of GMO soy "Roundup Ready Soy 40-3-2", the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) announced.

The tests were performed using the "Real Time PCR" method for DNA analysis, which is considered as the most reliable nowadays.

The representatives of the two environmental organisations explained that, under Bulgarian and European legislation, the products should have been labelled due to the high content of genetically modified ingredients.

Bulgarian and EU laws require special labelling for feed containing over 0.9% of genetically altered ingredients.

Ivaylo Popov from Za Zemyata explained that the results of the tests would be sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

In the meantime, Bulgaria's Agriculture Ministry issued a letter, saying that GM feed was being imported from third countries via Romania and was sold freely on the Bulgarian market.

In March 2010, Bulgaria's Parliament banned the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the country by conclusively adopting amendments to the Genetically Modified Organisms Act.