Transparency Serbia calls for public debate on GMOs

BELGRADE Transparency Serbia believes it is necessary to organize a reasoned public debate on possible amendments to the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The reason, the NGO said, is that this is "a particularly sensitive issue." Transparency Serbia calls for public debate on GMOs Transparency Serbia points to the obligation of organizing the public debate during preparations of amendments which significantly change solutions from the existing law. "In this case, we have a particularly sensitive issue- the interests of big corporations on one side, which entails a high risk of corruption (due to non-transparent lobbying in politics and the media), and on the other- citizens' health concerns," the organization warned. "We need to hear arguments of both supporters and opponents of the GMO, open a dialogue and give them an opportunity (and impose an obligation) to answer all open issues (for example, the question of whether free trade in GMOs is a requirement for joining the WTO or not)," the release notes. The GMO-related problems should certainly be discussed in the parliament, Transparency Serbia believes, and public hearings should be an opportunity for MPs to hear out all arguments. MPs should vote according to their conscience and not political directive, and a live stream of such meetings would ensure that the broadest public be well-informed about opposing views, the organization added. Five days ago, 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 stay," Ljajic said. Tanjug

Transparency Serbia calls for public debate on GMOs

Transparency Serbia points to the obligation of organizing the public debate during preparations of amendments which significantly change solutions from the existing law.

"In this case, we have a particularly sensitive issue- the interests of big corporations on one side, which entails a high risk of corruption (due to non-transparent lobbying in politics and the media), and on the other- citizens' health concerns," the organization warned.

"We need to hear arguments of both supporters and opponents of the GMO, open a dialogue and give them an opportunity (and impose an obligation) to answer all open issues (for example, the question of whether free trade in GMOs is a requirement for joining the WTO or not)," the release notes.

The GMO-related problems should certainly be discussed in the parliament, Transparency Serbia believes, and public hearings should be an opportunity for MPs to hear out all arguments.

MPs should vote according to their conscience and not political directive, and a live stream of such meetings would ensure that the broadest public be well-informed about opposing views, the organization added.

Five days ago, 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 stay," Ljajić said.