Bulgaria to impose GMO cultivation ban

Bulgaria is set to impose a five-year ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops, reports Bulgarian newswire Novinite. The Bulgarian parliamentary committee on environment and water is reported to have adopted proposed changes to the country’s GMO Act, which include the ban. Ratification of the decision is to be voted on this week in the second hearing on the Act in Parliament. It was passed at its first reading in January. Some Bulgarian Socialist Party MPs have reportedly called upon the centre-right GERB government to consider declaring Bulgaria a GMO-free zone. Bulgaria was among 11 EU member states that urged the European Commission last year to come up with options under which they may legally ban EU-approved GM crops ( Agrow No 571, p 12).