Poland: Will the president sign the controversial seed law?

According to information of international seed companies, GMO maize was cultivated on more than 3000 hectares in Poland without any official monitoring, control, location registers and without informing the public - all of which are be required by EU law, as outlined under directive 2001/18/EC on deliberate release of GMO into the environment. Therefore the Institute of Citizens' Affairs (INSPRO) submitted a complaint to the European Commission, drawing attention to the lack of implementation of this directive in Poland. On 21 November 2012, the Commission notified the Polish government about the consequent legal procedure started against Poland and gave two months to introduce control and monitoring mechanisms as well as registers locating GM crops as required under directive 2001/18/EC, the Green Institute Foundation reports.

The new Seed Law voted by the Polish Senate on 29 November 2012 allows for the registration and therefore cultivation of GM varieties, but at the same time introduces the possibility to ban GM maize and GM potatoes by a decree of the Polish Government. The main argument for general legalisation of GM cultivation was the prospect of the European Commission's financial penalties following the verdict of the European Court of Justice. The President has until 25 December 2012 to either sign the new law or veto it.

On 25 and 28 November 2012, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, calling upon President Komorowski to veto the law that would make GM plants and seeds legal in Poland, claiming that the Polish countryside and consumers are at risk. They also delivered a petition to President Komorowski. The new law was opposed by all opposition parties in the Polish Parliament. These parties and protesting citizens are planning further protests in front of the Presidential Palace supported by the pop star Doda and other popular artists. Young people are being mobilised by social media, and thousands of signatures have been collected against GMO in agriculture and food.

The Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk believes two Government decrees will stop the cultivation of maize MON810 and Amflora potato in Poland. On 5 December 2012, drafts of the two decrees have been passed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to public consultations. A few days before, Ministry officials declared that that government wants to adopt the decrees at the same time when the new Seed Law comes into power.

Green Institute Foundation