ISAAA Briefs No. 34-2005: Executive Summary PORTUGAL Bt Maize Brief Background
Portugal resumed planting of Bt maize after a five-year gap. Portugal planted an introductory area of approximately 1,000 hectares in 1999 for one year. In 2005, approximately 750 hectares were planted to Bt maize. As a member country of the EU, Portugal’s resumption of the cultivation of Bt maize is an important development. Value of Agricultural GDP: $3 billion Major Crops:
National Maize Area (2004): 135,000 hectares Coexistence and Product Authorization: The government has just passed a decree which requires a minimum distance of 200 meters between biotech and conventional maize and 300 meters between biotech maize and organic maize; buffer zones can substitute for these distances. The decree is also designed to facilitate the establishment of biotech-free zones. Implementation of coexistence laws will probably result in biotech maize being grown in the central and southern regions of Portugal where the farms are bigger, and where coexistence distances can be accommodated. All biotech varieties approved in the EC catalogue can be grown in Portugal. Biotech Crop Field Trials*
*Under Directive 2001/18/EC (after 17 October 2002) |
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