News

An ordinance entering into force in January 2006 to control the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in Hokkaido aims to prevent cross-pollination between GM and non-GM crops. The strict regulagtions, which will practically prevent GMO growing aims to gain consumers' confidence and further enhance the image of Hokkaido brands</p><p><a href="http://www.japanfs.org/db/database.cgi?cmd=dp&num=965&dp=data_e.html">Japan for Sustainability</a>

Canadas "potatoe" island Prince Edward Island might be the fist GMO free area in the country. Hearings are being held by the legislative assembly and a controversial debate is on</p><p><a href="http://www.assembly.pe.ca/consult/biotech.php">PEI offical web-site: Biotechnology and Prince Edward Island</a></p><p><a href="http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,62521,00.html">Wired: Canada Island May Boot GMO Crops</a>

The new Bulgarian law on GMOs has been published March 27th. It is intended to harmonize with EU legislation, but falls short of that according to "Agrolink" and other Bulgarian NGOs. The law provides for 30 km protection zones around natural protection areas and special protection for organic fields. It also prohibits the release of genetically modified tobacco, rose for oil, grapevines, vegetables and fruits, cotton and wheat</p><p><a href="http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/countries/bulgaria/bulgaria.html">NGO statement on new Bulgarian GMO law</a>

Pomorskie Province (with capital Gdansk) has declared itself GMO free. It is an area on the Baltic sea, popularwith tourists. The area is 18,000km2 and has a population of 2.2 million.Also a commune in Dolnoslaskie Province called Dziadowa-Kloda has declareditself a GMO Free Zone. There are 4,600 citizens in Dziadowa-Kloda and the area is105km2.

One thousand GMO-Free Zones were declared throughout the island of Ireland today - 22nd April, Earth Day 2005 - by farmers, food producers, hotels, restaurants, markets, pubs, retailers, and homes North and South of the border. These sites require legal protection from contamination by genetically modified (GM) seeds, crops, trees, livestock and fish. Hundreds of participants have placed GMO-FREE ZONE signs outside their place of business</p><p><a href="http://www.gmfreeireland.org/press/GMFIearthday2005.pdf">GM-free Ireland Press Release (pdf)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.gmfreeireland.org">GM-free Ireland Homepage</a>

The EU temporarily banned imports of U.S. maize feed and grains unless there is proof they are free of an illegal genetically modified organism. A test has been provided by Syngenta and GeneScan and approved by the EU</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/en/frame.php?page=../dossier/syngenta_bt10">SOS Dossier on bt10 - constantly updated</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/437&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">EU Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.syngenta.com/en/media/article.aspx?pr=041505&Lang=en">Syngenta Press Release: Syngenta supports EU in targeted certification program for two animal feed maize products</a>

The EU Commission has published a list of 26 genetically modified products which have been legally on the EU market since before the new legislative framework for authorising GM food and feed had entered into effect. These so-called 'existing products' were either approved under former EU legislation, or did not require approval at the time that they were put on the market</p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/439&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN">EU Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/130&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN">EU Commission: Questions & answers on GMO 'existing products' register</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biotechnology/authorisation/register_notification/index.htm">EU Commission: the register notifications</a>

The Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the European Union (COPA) today unanimously elected Rudolf Schwarzböck new Presidentfor the period 2005 - 2007. Schwarzböck has been the President of the Austrian Chambers of Agriculture, which expressed a distinctly critical position on GMO over the past years</p><p><a href="http://www.copa-cogeca.be/en/pressreleases.asp">COPA Press release in various languages: Rudolf Schwarzböck elected President</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/landwirtschafts_praesidenten_at_07_04.pdf">Letter of Austrian Chamber of Ag on GMO and Seed thresholds to the EU Commission (german olny)</a>

The Italian Constitutional court confirmed the laws in Marche and Puglia, which declare these Regions GMO free</p><p><a href="http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200504122141-1351-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia">AGI: Go ahead for gmo free produce</a>

On March 31st 2005, the Province of Lodskie, in central southern Poland,declared itself a GMO Free Zone.Lodze has a population of 2.5 million and covers an area of 18,220 km2. Thecapitol city is Lodz</p><p><a href="http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/countries/poland/poland.html">overview Poland</a>