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GMOs in Portugal — an overview

GMOs in Portugal — an overview. INTRODUCTION. Portuguese consumers are ill informed and cautious (year 2000 survey) 29% have no opinion on GMOs of those with opinion, 74.6% believe GMOs should not be marketed (at least for now) Portuguese government votes in Brussels:

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GMOs in Portugal — an overview

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  1. GMOs in Portugal — an overview

  2. INTRODUCTION • Portuguese consumers are ill informed and cautious (year 2000 survey) • 29% have no opinion on GMOs • of those with opinion, 74.6% believe GMOs should not be marketed (at least for now) • Portuguese government votes in Brussels: • Agriculture: 86% No, 14% Abst (7 votes) • Environment: 45% Yes, 41% No, 14% Abst (22 votes) II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  3. MAIN GM CROP LAWS • Directive 2001/18 - Transposed into national law in April 2003 (with an update July 2004) • Coexistence law - Published September 2005 (at the end of the growing season) • A GM-Free Zones Law is being prepared II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  4. COEXISTENCE LAW WEAKNESSES • Separation distances: 200 m or 24 maize lines (= about 18 m!) • No polluter pays principle • No compensation scheme defined • Accepts up to 0.9% contamination for conventional & organic crops • No detailed crop location information released (only general area) II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  5. CROP AUTHORISATIONS - I • 1999: Two maize varieties (Elgina/MON 810 & Compa CB/Bt 176) were added to the national seed list • About 1300 ha (0.5% of the total maize hectarage) were grown (with no coexistence regulations) • At the end of the 99 growing season these varieties were suspended "because of possible environmental risks" II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  6. CROP AUTHORISATIONS - II • 2004: The EC approves 17 Mon 810 varieties from Monsanto • 2005: About 760 hectares of GM maize were grown in Portugal (0,4% of a total of more than 200 000 ha cultivated with maize) • All GM maize produced goes into animal feed II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  7. FARMERS' VIEWS - A SURVEY • 52 coops surveyed at the end of 2005 • All sold conventional maize to farmers • Only 3 sold GM maize • All others had decided not to sell GM: • mainly for social, • agricultural, • and other reasons II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  8. GM FOOD & FEED • Supermarkets only carry a handful of labeled GM products: mainly GM soy oil • Virtually 100% animal feed is labeled as GM (some attempts at producing GM-free feed have failed, because of widespread facility contamination) • Organic feed must be imported II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  9. GM OPPOSITION • Anti-GMO Platform joins 8 Agriculture and Environment NGOs • Formally launched 2004, informally active since 1998 • Recognised as stakeholder by government and biotech companies • Main objectives include public awareness raising & technical advice and analysis • www.stopogm.net II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

  10. OUTLOOK - A GM-FREE PORTUGAL? • 24 Local governments have declared themselves GM-free; many are waiting for the law to be enacted • An animal food labeling requirement where GM feed was used will literally wipe out the market for GM maize... ... and that's what the next step should be II GMO Free Regions Conference, Berlin - 2006/01/14 - Margarida Silva, Portugal

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