Date Posted: 12/28/1999
Portugal: GE-corn suspended
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On the 27 of December 1999 the Portuguese Agriculture Ministry signed
into law a suspension that effectively stops all GE-corn from being
commercially grown in Portugal next season. There had been two
approvals (Novartis and Monsanto varieties) and 15 more were
expected. There was a single year of GE corn production in Portugal
(1999), with a total area of about 1300 hectares (about 0.5% of all
cultivated corn). This U-turn follows strong NGO pressure and rising
consumer awareness in the last few weeks. Reasons appointed for the
decision include the precautionary principle and the present
inability to accurately and independently monitor the impacts of the
releases. Corn growers had previously voiced some concern about the
decreased market value of GE or mixed corn production.
For further info use the contact below:
Margarida Silva
Quercus
Portugal
T +351 (22) 558 0048
F +351 (22) 509 0351
msilva@esb.ucp.pt