DSS, Greens in favor of continued ban on GMOs

BELGRADE The opposition DSS party has strongly condemned the possible amendments to the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms. The changes would the trade and import of these products in Serbia, which are currently banned. DSS, Greens in favor of continued ban on GMOs DSS Vice President Slobodan Samardzic said that the possible changes to the Law would be a great and serious sacrifice for the nation's health so that Serbia could join the World Trade Organization (WTO). He said at a press conference that up to recently there was a consensus in Serbia that the trade and import of GMOs should be completely banned. Samardzic criticized the government over its hesitation in this respect since the issue of the GMO trade is vitally important for the health of the nation and there should be no hesitation. Serbian Minister of Forestry and Water Management Dragan Glamocic stated that the current Law on Genetically Modified Organisms was "not good," adding that it should be changed regardless if Serbia will apply for the WTO membership or not. "I believe that the GMO issue has strategic national importance," Glamocic told reporters in Subotica, adding that the decision on this issue will be made by the Serbian government. (Beta, file) "Acceptance talks" Allowing the trade and production of GMOs is not a requirement for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the EU, leader of the Greens of Serbia party Ivan Karic warned on Monday, underscoring that Serbia only needs much knowledge and adroitness in negotiations in order to protect the national interests. "The EU accession talks would then be renamed to 'acceptance talks', if you were to accept everything on the table," Karic told Tanjug. He notes that only 40 out of the 159 WTO member states allowed GMOs, while the ban on GMOs is valid in eight EU countries, including Germany, France and Austria, because they protect their consumers and agricultural producers. The Greens of Serbia deems that the negotiations with the WTO should be postponed until Serbia's EU entry, and underlines that the WTO should not require from Serbia what it has not asked of other member states. "We have to have researches and studies that show that this food is not dangerous, and only after that, we can discuss whether such products have to be labeled or not and whether their trade should be allowed," Karic noted. "It is absolutely unacceptable to us that there are only studies of companies that state that their genetically modified foods or seeds are not detrimental to environment," he said. Karic stressed that the non GM soy, which is produced in Serbia, is in great demand on the global market, adding that its price is 25-30 percent higher than that of the GM soy, while the organic soy is 50 percent more expensive. Last week, Serbian Minister of Trade Rasim Ljajic said that one of the requirements for being admitted to the WTO and the EU is to remove restrictive measures concerning any product, GMOs included, from the national regulations. "The ban on GMO production will remain in place as part of domestic regulations, but the ban on trade cannot remain," Ljajic said in a statement for B92. Tanjug

DSS, Greens in favor of continued ban on GMOs

DSS Vice President Slobodan Samardžić said that the possible changes to the Law would be a great and serious sacrifice for the nation's health so that Serbia could join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

He said at a press conference that up to recently there was a consensus in Serbia that the trade and import of GMOs should be completely banned.

Samardžić criticized the government over its hesitation in this respect since the issue of the GMO trade is vitally important for the health of the nation and there should be no hesitation.

Serbian Minister of Forestry and Water Management Dragan Glamočić stated that the current Law on Genetically Modified Organisms was "not good," adding that it should be changed regardless if Serbia will apply for the WTO membership or not.

"I believe that the GMO issue has strategic national importance," Glamočić told reporters in Subotica, adding that the decision on this issue will be made by the Serbian government.

"Acceptance talks"

Allowing the trade and production of GMOs is not a requirement for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the EU, leader of the Greens of Serbia party Ivan Karić warned on Monday, underscoring that Serbia only needs much knowledge and adroitness in negotiations in order to protect the national interests.

"The EU accession talks would then be renamed to 'acceptance talks', if you were to accept everything on the table," Karić told Tanjug.

He notes that only 40 out of the 159 WTO member states allowed GMOs, while the ban on GMOs is valid in eight EU countries, including Germany, France and Austria, because they protect their consumers and agricultural producers.

The Greens of Serbia deems that the negotiations with the WTO should be postponed until Serbia's EU entry, and underlines that the WTO should not require from Serbia what it has not asked of other member states.

"We have to have researches and studies that show that this food is not dangerous, and only after that, we can discuss whether such products have to be labeled or not and whether their trade should be allowed," Karić noted.

"It is absolutely unacceptable to us that there are only studies of companies that state that their genetically modified foods or seeds are not detrimental to environment," he said.

Karić stressed that the non GM soy, which is produced in Serbia, is in great demand on the global market, adding that its price is 25-30 percent higher than that of the GM soy, while the organic soy is 50 percent more expensive.

Last week, Serbian Minister of Trade Rasim Ljajić said that one of the requirements for being admitted to the WTO and the EU is to remove restrictive measures concerning any product, GMOs included, from the national regulations.

"The ban on GMO production will remain in place as part of domestic regulations, but the ban on trade cannot remain," Ljajić said in a statement for B92.