GMO free regions and biodiversity Conference

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GMO free regions and biodiversity Conference

• GMO-free Regions
• the case of Italy
• Luca Colombo - Consiglio dei Diritti Genetici
• Carmelo Troccoli- Coldiretti

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GE-free Regions Tuscany the first GE-free
regional law
Tuscany Regional Law 6/4/2000 n. 53 Regional
discipline on genetically modified organisms
(GMOs) The law bans cultivation and production
of genetically modified varieties The Regional
Agency for Agricultural Development and
Innovation (A.R.S.I.A.) is in charge of controls,
according to the Enforcement Regulation (D.P.G.R.
May 17 2001 n. 24/R)
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GE-free regions
GE-free regions
Forthcoming GE-free laws
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GE-free Regions
2004 the Italian Government (Council of
Ministers), with the notable opposition of the
Minister for Agriculture Alemanno, appeals
against the Regional laws of Puglia and Marche
Quote of the Council of Ministers
appeal Competence on environmental protection
matters is exclusively at national
level BUT Regions are competent on
agricultural matters!
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National Coexistence Decree
Decree of the Italian Government on guidelines
for co-existence between transgenic, conventional
and organic agriculture The decree needs to be
approved within 60 days from its enactment with
readings in the two Chambers of the Parliament.
The law has been voted by the Lower Chamber
only. The Senate has less than a week to complete
the scrutiny any change in the Senate determines
a third reading. Deadline for transposition into
a national law January 28, 2005
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National Coexistence Decree
Key provisions Each Region has to adopt by the
end of December 2005 a regional plan aimed at
ensuring coexistence. These regional plans will
develop the technical rules for coexistence,
identifying the agricultural best practices. A
Coexistence Committee will be set up in order
to provide detailed guidelines to advise the
competent regional authorities for the
development of their strategies. No
contamination of seeds is allowed. Until the
adoption of a regional coexistence system,
commercial cultivation of GMOs is prohibited.
Field trials are out of the scope of this
provisions. Liability scheme (of limited and
vague nature). Until the adoption of the
regional coexistence plan, liability on the basis
of criminal law. Afterwards, non-compliance will
lead to a fine, ranging from 2.500 to 25.000 ,
plus the compensation of the damage.
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National Coexistence Decree

• No unanimous consensus among stakeholders on the
  decree efficacy.
• (This decree has been approved after several
  government committee sessions have remarkably
  worsen many of the provisions originally
  foreseen).
• Weak points
• Identification of homogeneous areas (mosaic
  agriculture).
• Reference to European Recommendation guidelines
  on coexistence.
• Weak moratorium system.
• Farmers notification of GM cropping the notice
  given to the competent regional authorities must
  be given within 15 days after the sowing.
• Weak liability framework (low sanctions, no GMO
  tax).

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GE-free National Coalition

• First Coalitions initiative
• The Etats Généraux GE-free General Assembly
  (Rome, November 2003)
• The Coalition invoked the approval of a rigorous
  rule on coexistence based on the polluter pays
  principle.
• Common focus the defence of the quality of
  national agri-food systems.
• Other organisations joint the Coalition after the
  Etats Généraux.

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Regional Administrations (and political
parties) at the GE-free General Assembly
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Civil society organisations at the GE-free
General Assembly
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Other significant initiatives
Città del Vino Italian Association of Wine
Cities no to GM grape Membership 529
municipalities
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GE-free Provinces
The recently approved Ascoli Piceno GE-free
Province act identifies the entire province as a
homogeneous area (with specific reference to
the National Coexistence Decree)
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GE-free Municipalities
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GE-free Municipalities Naples Chamber of Commerce
(October 2004)
182 Municipalities e 5 Provinces of Campania
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GE-free Municipalities
The Italian campaign "Comuni Antitransgenici"
(GE-free municipalities) started in 1999 The
"Comuni Antitransgenici" initiative has been
active in networking Italian municipalities,
provinces and regions. According to the
campaign, combining the area of communities that
have already signed a resolution and those that
promoted a ban on GMOs, almost 80 of Italian
territory is declared GE-free.
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Field trials applications in Italy
16 on-going field trials 4 reasearch centres 8
engineered species (tomato, rice, strawberry,
cherry tree, olive tree, blueberry, grape, kiwi)
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Seed contamination

• Zero tolerance for seed contamination since 2002.
• 2004 Ministerial Decree on pre-marketing
  assessment of contamination for the 2005 season.
• The Anti-fraud police, the Custom Agency and the
  National Seed Administration Body (ENSE) are in
  charge of the seed contamination controls.
• After 40 of seed lots sampled
• 19 positive results (5 of tests).
• GMO contamination generally close to 0.1 and
  always under 0.3.

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First (and only?) GM product in Italyafter the
TL Regulation entry into force
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Biothecnology in agricolture
After CAP reform and according to the growth of
consumers attention on food and environmental
questions, agricultural system overcame the logic
of productivity growth to achieve quality and eco
friendly crop rotation and breeding methods.
Citizens health and food safety look like
compromised by anonymous and unknown origins of
foods, with limited nutritional qualities
Recent and constant imports of GM seeds, show how
transgenic applications are dangerous for
national agri food system and for consumers
health.
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COLDIRETTI's role

• During last years the need of a sustainable
  development, shared by stakeholders and consumers
  arise. Its aims are
• leading consumer in the direction of a conscious
  consumption and a selection of high quality
  products
• Underlining the importance of food origins,
  through specific campaigns, inspired by a
  broadminded development model.

Since long time, COLDIRETTI is working to create
a network among farmers, citizen-consumer and
food chain. The objective is ASSURING THAT OUR
PRODUCTIONS ARE GMO FREE
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COLDIRETTI's action plan
Promoted projects SEMINA SICURA ed
ALLEVAMENTO SICURO, stakeholders and farmers
have been invited to ask for a declaration
stating that purchased seeds and animal feed are
GMO free
1999/2000

• During the so called Campagna amica day we
  promoted a deal, called
• PATTO CON IL CONSUMATORE
• stakeholders committed themselves to
• Continuing food tradition trough regional high
  quality food
• Enhancing organic and GI productions
• Using GMO free animal feed
• Adopting agronomic practices respecting
  territory's integrity and common sense

3/12/2000
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Campagna amica and Campagna amica "libera da OGM"
with CAMPAGNA AMICA project Coldiretti promotes
a free dialog with citizen consumer aiming at
increasing local development, approaching cities
to the countryside, sponsoring typical products,
defending quality and supporting consumers
choice (understandable labelling, guaranteed food
origin, correct agri-food advertisements)
With CAMPAGNA AMICA LIBERA DA OGM Coldiretti
is keeping up local and regional administrations
attention to defend quality products, food
traditions, rural and environmental integrity in
order to obtain food safety and freedom of choice
for stakeholders and consumers.
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COLDIRETTI's approach to GMOs as a social actor
TO OBTAIN EFFICIENT LABELLING SYSTEM AND GMO
TRACEABILITY AND TO GUARANTEE THE DEFENCE OF
TRADITIONAL AND TYPICAL PRODUCTS COLDIRETTI
FORMED A SERIES OF ALLIANCES WITH OTHER
TRANSFORMATION AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES, AND
WITH CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
IN ITALY WE CO-PROMOTED THE COALITION LIBERI DA
OGM