Oproep tot instelling Europese landbouwgebieden die vrij zijn van gengewassen (en)

A joint campaign was launched yesterday in Strasbourg by the Assembly of European Regions and Friends of the Earth to lobby for GMO-free regions.

The two groups are calling for several measures to be implemented.

These include making sure that there is a "seperation distance" between genetically modified and non-GMO crops, making sure regions can legally define themselves as "GMO-free zones", ensuring that the polluter is liable if non-GMO crops become contaminated and allowing member states or regions to restrict the sale or use of GMO crops if there is a risk to the environment.

According to the Assembly of European Regions, over 2000 regions have already declared themselves GMO-free zones since 1999.

And the campaign drew immediate support from some of the new parliamentarians in Strasbourg.

Polish MEP Janusz Wojciechowski, who is Vice-President of the Agriculture Committee said, "Poland and other new EU Member states want to avoid the errors that the old EU Member states made in the past in order to preserve our traditional agriculture".

"We may produce less than them but our food must be natural and consumer-friendly. Only such a policy can help us to uphold small farms and maintain jobs in rural areas", he added.