Biotech Updates

Poland Considers New Law for Cultivation of GM Crops

February 12, 2010

The Polish Parliament is considering the implementation of a restrictive new law on the cultivation of genetically modified crops, says a report from the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS). The new regulation includes provisions for creation of GMO free zones. USDA FAS says that the "proposed requirements, if approved by the Parliament, will likely prevent planting of modified crops in Poland on a commercial scale."

New regulations for the coexistence of biotech with conventional and organic crops are also being reviewed in the Parliament. The regulations, drafted by the Agriculture Ministry, call for 500 and 1,000 meter isolation zones between genetically modified corn and conventional and organic crops.

The FAS report also highlighted public statements supporting biotech. The report has quoted a letter from the Polish Association of Cereal Producers to the Parliament requesting better, fair regulations on biotech.

The report, which also includes a copy of the draft regulations, is available at http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Poland%20considers%20restrictive%20biotech%20law%20-%20farmers%20fighting%20back_Warsaw_Poland%20EU-27_2-8-2010.pdf