Slovenia
Updates + Overviews
The activities towards GMO-free Slovenia began in 2001 with the work of Umanotera – Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable development that started a campaign to establish the GMO-free Slovenia and publishing a research report making their case. They established a NGO coalition that consisted of 16 organisations (environmental, consumers, organic farmers).
In 2003, a declaration on »Ecoregion Alpe Adria« has been signed by the presidents of organic farmers' associations of Slovenia, the Austrian provinces of Carinthia and Styria and the Italian provinces of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto, expressing their intention to work towards an organic and trans-boundary GMO-free region. Agriculture ministers from Slovenia, Carinthia and Friuli-Venezia Guila were present at the ceremony and expressed their support for this initiative.
In 2004, USOFA (Union of Slovenian Organic Farmers Ass.) and Institute for Sustainable Development have organised an international conference »GMOs in Agriculture« in Ljubljana, featuring also some renown international experts, politicians and activists.
Since 2006, Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) has intensified its work on GM issues. Activities involve informing public and policy makers about actual issues on national and EU level, stimulating public discussion, and co-ordinating activities. ISD has co-ordinated discussion and input of 18 Slovenian NGOs (members of the Coalition for Sustainable Rural Development) into the proposal of the national Act on coexistence of GM with other agricultural crops (Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, proposal from August 2006). The goal of NGOs was to contribute to the development of binding and strict rules for growing GM crops. Lately there has been an increased interest in declaring GM-free municipalities; ISD and some local organisations are offering support to these endeavours.
Contact:
Institute for Sustainable Development
phone: +386-1-4397460
fax: +386-1-4397465
mobile: +386.41.725.991
email: 
info@itr.si
website: www.itr.si
Organisations and institutions active on GMO
Institute for Sustainable Development (Slovene)
Umanotera, Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable Development (Slovene)
Official and institutional links
Ministry for the Environment and Spatial Planning (Slovene)
Ministry of Health (English)
Legal documents
Act on the coexistence of genetically modified plants with other agricultural plants (December 2006)
Management of Genetically Modified Organisms Act July 2002 (Annexes not available in EN)
1. Zakon o spremembah in dopolnitvah zakona o ravnanju z gensko spremenjenimi organizmi /ZRGSO-A/ (Ur.l. RS, no. 73/2004)
Act amending the Management of Genetically Modified Organisms Act
2. Zakon o ravnanju z gensko spremenjenimi organizmi (uradno prečiščeno besedilo) /ZRGSO-UPB1/ (Ur.l. RS, no. 23/2005 Management of Genetically Modified Organisms Act - official consolidated text
Proposal of National Act on coexistence of GM plants with other agricultural plants (Draft).
Other background information
Is the Market driving GMOs out of the region? The Situation with Genetically Modified Organisms in Slovenia,Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro, by Iza Kruszewska (October 2003)
Press release Transnational Alpine region turns GMO free, about the ALPE ADRIA region (Slovenia, Austria, Italy - see picture)
Slovenia - A GMO-free zone: The Only Way to Protect Biodiversity and ensure Organic Agriculture can Thrive. By Iza Kruszewska, June 2001
History
In 2006, Institute for Sustainable Development joined the European action for conservation and protection of organic and conventional farming against GMO pollution and to ensure consumers their right to choose non-GM food. It has also created “GMO monitor” – web page with actual information on national and EU activities.
1.3.2007
Activities related to informing Slovenian MEPs and public about up-coming vote on Biotechnology Resolution in the European Parliament (14./15.3.07).
20.2.2007
Press release: Environment Ministers from EU Member States voted to allow Hungary to uphold its national ban of Monsanto’s genetically modified maize.
6.2.2007
Press release: Slovenian Environmental minister has to support conservation of non-GM agriculture (Council meeting 20.2.07).
5.2.2007
Letter sent to the minister for environment Janez Podobnik: Input into Environment EU Council Meeting, 20th of February 2007 (Hungarian ban of GM maize MON810 and authorisation of GM potato).
16.1.2007
Live radio broadcast emission "Studio at 5 p.m." (national radio programme I.) about prevention of contamination with GM crops.
30.11.2006
A requirement for temporary ban of GMO cultivation until the entering in the force of the national Act on co-existence was sent again, this time to the Ministry of Environment - minister Janez Podobnik, following the response of Min Agri on the competences. MinAgri has expressed support for NGO proposal of the temporary ban.
12.11.2006
A requirement for temporary ban of GMO cultivation until the entering in the force of the national Act on co-existence was sent to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
25.10.2006
NGOs have elaborated comments on the 2nd draft of the Act on coexistence.
25.10.2006
Letter sent to the agricultural minister and prime minister considering the Act on coexistence of GM and other crops.
18.9.2006
Position of the Coalition for Sustainable Rural Development on the Act on coexistence of GM with other agricultural crops.
Summary: Members of the coalition oppose introduction of GMOs in Slovenia, due to high risks and absence of any necessity of growing GMOs. Nevertheless they decided to contribute to the setting of binding and strict rules – Act on coexistence of GM crops with conventional and organic crops, in order to prevent unwanted pollution of crops and food.
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