Prohibition of cultivation of GMOs in Madeira

At its plenary meeting scheduled on 27 and 28 Janury 2010 EFSA GMO Panel is likely to adopt a scientific opinion on the establishment of area free of cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the Portuguese autonomous region of Madeira.

Background: In May 2009 the Republic of Portugal informed the European Commission about its intention to declare the autonomous region of Madeira as an area free of the cultivation of varieties of GMOs. The draft Decree of Portugal wants to prohibite the introduction of plant or seed propagating material containing GMOs into the territory of Madeira. The ban includes all GMO varieties authorised under Directive 2001/18/EC and Regulation 1829/2003.tabela