Hungary-GM modified crops.

HUNGARY-TRYING TO GO THEIR OWN WAY.

Last Monday EU environment ministers voted down a draft order by the EU Commission that would have made Hungary lift its ban on the genetically engineered maize product MON810.

Only the environment ministers of Great Britain, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands supported the commission’s effort to force Hungary to allow farmers to grow the GMO maize.

MON810 was developed by the American agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto Monsanto to be resistant to attack by the European corn borer, a type of caterpillar.

Fear of side effects

Research results regarding possible effects on other animals and people are conflicting. According to a November 2008 report by Greenpeace this particular strain of transgenic maize led to lower levels of fertility in mice.

A number of EU member states, including Hungary, Greece and France, the largest corn producers, have banned the cultivation of MON810 until environmental risks are clarified.

GM opposed

Surveys suggest that around 70% of Hungarians oppose the planting of genetically modified corn, and the relevant acts of Parliament banning its cultivation were supported by all the parties. Experts suggest that the fact that Hungarian corn can be described as "GM-free" is an important advantage on the European market, where a large majority of consumers reject genetically modified foods.

The Hungarian delegation, led by state secretary of the Agricultural Ministry Zoltán Gögös, welcomed the decision saying that it took a lot of effort to convince the majority of the nations and that it represented a great triumph for Hungary’s "agricultural diplomats".

budapesttimes.hu