AD urges government to use EU opt-out to be declared GMO free

Malta should utilise EU opt-out and join Austria and Italy in declaring Malta a GMO-free zone, the Green Party said.

Simon Galea, the Alternattiva Demokratika’s spokesperson for animal welfare and agriculture, held that apart from the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food chain, GMO crop cultivation pose other major threats including cross pollination, something which is particularly relevant to small countries such as Malta.

“Ecosystems can be badly affected following GMOs cross pollinating with other species thus altering present species with all its implications,” said Galea said.

While reaffirming its position against the cultivation of GMO crops, AD asked parliamentary secretary for agriculture Roderick Galdes to follow the footsteps of Italy and Austria by officially requesting an opt-out from growing any of the eight varieties of GM maize permitted or set to be permitted under EU law.

In 2013, a protest was held as part of a global march against the multinational agricultural technology company Monsanto – the world’s largest producer of genetically modified seeds and agro-chemicals.