GMOs in Romania
GMO cultivation
Romania has a relatively long history in the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Genetically modified soy
The first GMO crops in Romania were introduced in 1998, about 14 varieties of genetically modified soy.
The official figures show that:
- in 2004, 5523 ha of GM soy was cultivated,
- in 2005, 87600 ha of GM soy was cultivated
- and in 2006 137275,5 ha of GM soy was cultivated.
When Romania became an EU member state, in 2007, the cultivation of GM soy in Romanian territory was officially banned, because of the European regulations (GM soy was not authorized for cultivation on EU territory, being considered economically unfeasible).
GM Maize MON810
However, the same year, in April, 2007 a GM corn named MON810 (belonging to Monsanto Company) was tacitly approved for cultivation in Romania. This was the only GMO authorized in the EU and Romania automatically authorized it. No assessment studies have been conducted regarding the environmental effects of GM corn in Romania.
Authorities didn’t address in the internal agenda and in the process of adherence the implications which these crops could have on the environment. Romania is a country in which corn crops have become a tradition, holding a rich genetic heritage of traditional corn varieties. The nearly 3 million ha of conventional corn crops are exposed to contamination. "How will we protect the traditional and conventional corn varieties against GMO contamination?" – is a question for which authorities didn’t try to find an answer.
The official data shows that the seize of MON810 crops are:
- In 2007 - 332,5 ha.
- In 2008 - 6130,44 ha.
- In 2009 - 3243,52 ha.
- In 2010 - 822,6 ha.
Romania has a relatively long history in the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Genetically modified soy
The first GMO crops in Romania were introduced in 1998, about 14 varieties of genetically modified soy.
The official figures show that:
- in 2004, 5523 ha of GM soy was cultivated,
- in 2005, 87600 ha of GM soy was cultivated
- and in 2006 137275,5 ha of GM soy was cultivated.
When Romania became an EU member state, in 2007, the cultivation of GM soy in Romanian territory was officially banned, because of the European regulations (GM soy was not authorized for cultivation on EU territory, being considered economically unfeasible).
GM Maize MON810
However, the same year, in April, 2007 a GM corn named MON810 (belonging to Monsanto Company) was tacitly approved for cultivation in Romania. This was the only GMO authorized in the EU and Romania automatically authorized it. No assessment studies have been conducted regarding the environmental effects of GM corn in Romania.
Authorities didn’t address in the internal agenda and in the process of adherence the implications which these crops could have on the environment. Romania is a country in which corn crops have become a tradition, holding a rich genetic heritage of traditional corn varieties. The nearly 3 million ha of conventional corn crops are exposed to contamination. "How will we protect the traditional and conventional corn varieties against GMO contamination?" – is a question for which authorities didn’t try to find an answer.
The official data shows that the seize of MON810 crops are:
- In 2007 - 332,5 ha.
- In 2008 - 6130,44 ha.
- In 2009 - 3243,52 ha.
- In 2010 - 822,6 ha.
European debates
Since 2007, Romania has shown a strong pro - GMO attitude within the european debates. There is a large series of discussions in the GMO field within the EU structures regarding new GMO approvals: if certain levels of contamination of the organic and conventional crops with GMO could be admitted, if the EU countries which banned the MON810 genetically modified corn cultivation have the right to keep this interdiction etc. The votes of Romania in these discussions were in favour of GMO or neutral. This shows the succesful efforts of the GMO producing companies, to influence the decisions of the romanian authorities, and the lack of interest of the authorities to apply the precautionary principle and to assess the risks of GMOs on the environment and health.
A very important aspect is the intense lobbying done by Monsanto via the Romanian auhorities for GM soy. Also, the Romanian Government is facilitating Monsanto and other GMO producing companies to use the "Romanian experience" on GM soy for their personal lobby at the European Commission. This "Romanian experience" is all about the great succes of the GM soy in Romania and how it could be applied on a larger scale.
Romania is the only country in the world to have reported higher GM soy production per hectare in comparison to conventional soy. The record production data has never been oficially verified as authentic. In comunist times, reporting higher production per hectare was a common insitututionalized procedure. This habit seems to have persisted in the Romanian agriculture of the 21st century.
GMO legislation
The Romanian GMO legislation is the product of a rushed harmonization of the national regulation with the European directives. Romania has 24 laws in this field, the country with the most laws in this field, which regulates the GMO in a complicated manner leaving room for interpretation. Many of these laws were never submitted to public debates.
An even more critical aspect of the GMO legislation is its application. A real example is the way Romania banned GM soy. The efforts to remove these GM crops from the fields were superficial and irresponsible. More than that, The National Registry of the GMO from 2006 and various responsed to requests for information from 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 shows that the authorities didn’t have any control on the cultivation of GM soy even when it was authorized in Romania, nor the MON810 maize. There are many cases of missing data (crop locations, crop dimensions, varieties grown, the origin of the seeds, destination of the production etc.), data processed wrong (basic arithmetic errors – the sum of the areas), contradictory data coming from different authorities (Mnistry for Agriculture / Ministry for the Environment).
Labeling
The Romanian regulations require the labeling of genetically modified products since june, 2006 (Law no. 106/2002 – the provisions regarding GMOs being completed by the Governmental Decision no. 173/2006).
Currently there isn’t any food on the Romanian market, which is labeled as genetically modified or as having GM ingredients.
Authorized laboratory for GMO testing
In 2007, the Laboratory Unit of Molecular Biology and GMOs of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority was accepted on the list of the European Reference Laboratories in the GMO field. So, Romania also has the technical and logistical means in order to trace GMO labeling. There isn’t any product on the Romanian market labeled as GMO and there aren’t any public results of laboratory analysis of any products made by the authorities.
Studies
Romania doesn’t have any conducted or published studies on examining the impact of GM crops on the environment and human health and there aren’t any plans to achieve such studies in the future.
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OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
Official catalogs of crop varieties
Extracts from official catalogs of Romanian crop varieties – regarding registered genetically modified varieties:
- In 2004;
- In 2005;
- In 2006.
In this period 14 varieties of genetically modified soy were cultivated in Romania. Source: ISTIS- State Institute for Variety Testing and Registration (functioning within the Ministry of Agriculture).
Official catalogs of crop varieties
Extracts from official catalogs of Romanian crop varieties – regarding registered genetically modified varieties:
- In 2004;
- In 2005;
- In 2006.
In this period 14 varieties of genetically modified soy were cultivated in Romania. Source: ISTIS- State Institute for Variety Testing and Registration (functioning within the Ministry of Agriculture).
GMO REGISTRY
This document presents the situation of GMO cultivation in Romania regarding the commercial and experimental plants.
Year 2008 and 2009:
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were deliberately introduced in the environment for testing;
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were introduced on the market in 2008 and 2009;
- Electronic registry regarding the received and rejected notifications, issued, revised and suspended agreements in 2008;
- Electronic registry regarding the received and rejected notifications, issued, revised and suspended agreements in 2009;
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were deliberately introduced in the environment for testing in 2009;
Source: National Environmental Protection Agency.
Year 2007
- Official answer from the Romanian Ministry for Agriculture to the request for information addressed by the Biodinamic Gardeners from Romania (document in Romanian version).
Year 2006:
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were introduced on the market.
Source: National Environmental Protection Agency.
GMO cultivation and control in 2006
The response of the National Environmental Guard to the solicitations of InfOMG regarding GMO cultivation:
- Situation of the genetically modified soya cultivation and control in Alba, Brasov, Covasna, Harghita, Mures and Sibiu county, in 2006. Response made by the Regional Commissioner of the Environment Guard - Sibiu.
- The situation of the controls made by the National Environmental Guard on genetically modified soya and problems encountered on field and at a bureaucratic level in 2006, response made by the National Environmental Guard.
- Situation of the controls and imposed fines for ilegally cultivated genetically modified soya, in 2006. Response made by the National Environmental Guard.
This document presents the situation of GMO cultivation in Romania regarding the commercial and experimental plants.
Year 2008 and 2009:
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were deliberately introduced in the environment for testing;
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were introduced on the market in 2008 and 2009;
- Electronic registry regarding the received and rejected notifications, issued, revised and suspended agreements in 2008;
- Electronic registry regarding the received and rejected notifications, issued, revised and suspended agreements in 2009;
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were deliberately introduced in the environment for testing in 2009;
Source: National Environmental Protection Agency.
Year 2007
- Official answer from the Romanian Ministry for Agriculture to the request for information addressed by the Biodinamic Gardeners from Romania (document in Romanian version).
Year 2006:
- Public registry of the locations where GMO were introduced on the market.
Source: National Environmental Protection Agency.
GMO cultivation and control in 2006
The response of the National Environmental Guard to the solicitations of InfOMG regarding GMO cultivation:
- Situation of the genetically modified soya cultivation and control in Alba, Brasov, Covasna, Harghita, Mures and Sibiu county, in 2006. Response made by the Regional Commissioner of the Environment Guard - Sibiu.
- The situation of the controls made by the National Environmental Guard on genetically modified soya and problems encountered on field and at a bureaucratic level in 2006, response made by the National Environmental Guard.
- Situation of the controls and imposed fines for ilegally cultivated genetically modified soya, in 2006. Response made by the National Environmental Guard.
GMO EXPERIMENTAL FIELDS
Agreements and authorizations issued by the Environment Protection Agency in 2009:
- Import agreements issued in 2008. These agreements refer to the import authorizations on genetically modified seeds for testing in outdoor experimental fields.
- Authorizations from 2009. These permits cover the authorization of genetically modified experimental crop fields, to establish their location and validity.
Agreements and authorizations issued by the Environment Protection Agency in 2008:
- Import agreements issued in 2008. These agreements refer to the import authorizations on genetically modified seeds for testing in outdoor experimental fields.
- Authorizations from 2008. These permits cover the authorization of genetically modified experimental crop fields, to establish their location and validity.
Agreements and authorizations issued by the Environment Protection Agency in 2009:
- Import agreements issued in 2008. These agreements refer to the import authorizations on genetically modified seeds for testing in outdoor experimental fields.
- Authorizations from 2009. These permits cover the authorization of genetically modified experimental crop fields, to establish their location and validity.
Agreements and authorizations issued by the Environment Protection Agency in 2008:
- Import agreements issued in 2008. These agreements refer to the import authorizations on genetically modified seeds for testing in outdoor experimental fields.
- Authorizations from 2008. These permits cover the authorization of genetically modified experimental crop fields, to establish their location and validity.
