Warsaw, Poland
August 22, 2008
USDA/FAS GAIN report PL 8026
Report Highlights:
The Environment Ministry has
published a draft law on cultivation of agricultural
biotechnology crops that is restrictive. EU regulatory
authorities have told Poland it must update its GM law, but the
Ministry proposal creates new headaches designed to prevent
planting. Regions may declare themselves GM-free and farmers
violating the law can be sent to jail. The law heavily regulates
scientific research and plant geneticists report that the
conditions will prevent research. Poland has a severe outbreak
of European Corn Borer that causes a $400 million crop loss to
corn farmers each year. GM varieties approved for planting in
the EU and used in Spain and Czech Republic would recover that
loss. Poland has the highest animal feed prices in Europe and
imports more pork than it exports. Polish animals are fed GM
corn from other countries. Imported pork is raised on GM feeds.
Polish farmers don't have a level playing field against other EU
farmers and are losing out.
Full report:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200808/146295592.pdf
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