The public hearing, gathering MPs, representatives of relevant ministries and broad scientific professional public, numerous NGOs and media representatives, was a forum of contrasting positions on the use and import of products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO).

On the behalf of the Environmental Protection Committee, the participants were greeted by Milica Vojic Markovic, Committee Chairperson, who said that the idea behind the public hearing is to allow the participants to voice different opinions on the topic, and to, in the discussions, answer to the numerous questions and dilemmas concerning the impact of transgenics on the environment and health.

At the beginning of the first session, the participants were addressed by Vanja Kojic, representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, who spoke about the biosafety legal framework, reminding that in 2009 the National Assembly adopted the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms. The Law regulates the procedure for the issuance of permissions to use and introduce GMOs into the environment, bans placing modified organism and products containing genetically modified organisms onto the market and establishes which agricultural products of plant origin are not considered genetically modified organisms.

Toni Petrovic, representative of the Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection spoke of the health aspect of the use of GMO products, stressing that the legal framework is good, but that there is a need to open independent accredited labs which would enable the practical application of the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms.

On the behalf of the Ministry of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications, the participants were addressed by Jadranka Zenic Zeljkovic who spoke of the flaws of the existing Law, stressing that the Law was not harmonised with the regulations of the European Union and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO rules do not stipulate a general ban on the import of genetically modified organisms, but allow the member states to ban the import of certain products on grounds of estimated health and environmental risk. On the other hand, the fact that the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms envisages a general ban on cultivating and importing GMOs calls for harmonisation between the legal framework and WTO regulations in view of Serbia’s imminent inclusion in the world organisation.

The ensuing discussion included the representatives of the Centre for Ecology and Sustainable Development, Institute of Field Crops, Organic Agriculture Union, Movement for Kraljevo, Serbian Green Movement, Lazarevac Environmental Movement, Vegetable Crops Centre from Velika Plana, “Dveri” Serbian Movement and Nis Environmental Movement. They pointed out the necessity for scientific and expert argumentation on the use of GMOs and the impact the organisms have on people and the environment. They pointed out the need to adopt by-laws which would enable the implementation of the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms. The participants of the discussion also shared facts on the negative impact of GMOs on the human organism and the environment and advised caution when it comes to the use of GMOs no matter what advantages GMOs exhibited in experiments. Research, which might take decades, is essential before one can safely speak of the influence of GMOs on human health and the environment, said the participants.

In the second session, the participants were addressed by Prof. Dr Miodrag Dimitrijevic of the Novi Sad Faculty of Agriculture. He talked about the beginnings and development of genetically modified organisms and stated that GMOs are not necessary considering that regular agricultural production is globally recognised. Irena Beret, President of the Stop GMOs Serbia organisation spoke on the behalf of 10,000 citizens, members of the organisation, and appealed against allowing the import of products containing GMOs into Serbia, despite the pressures of global corporations. She pointed out certain scientific studies which say that there is no proof that GMOs are safe to use.

Nada Miskovic, President of the National Association for the Development for Organic Production, stressed that cultivation and export of conventional agricultural products, the demand for which is very high in the world, is Serbia’s chance. Serbia should develop toward producing quality organic food to ensure a higher placement of these products onto the European food market, added Miskovic. Representatives of the Healthy Planet association, Novi Sad Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Vreoci Ecological Society, Green Economy Centre, Institute of Molecular Genetics and other associations voiced their opinions. It was noted that organic agriculture is Serbia’s chance for development and that the public should be further educated on the impact of GMOs on health and the environment. The engagement of independent labs to investigate GMOs is very important, it was said in the discussion and deemed that Serbia’s sustainable development should be based on ecological farming.

The third session was opened by Dr Marina Stamenkovic Radak of the Belgrade Faculty of Biology, Dr Aleksej Tarasjev of the Sinisa Stankovic Institute for Biological Research and Prof. Dr Larisa Jovanovic Kolomecejeva of the Scientific Professional Society for Environmental Protection of Serbia - Ecologica. Prof. Dr Marina Stamenkovic Radak spoke of the context of an economic future based on natural resources, sustainable development and transgenic technologies. She also mentioned the successful implementation of gene modification in the treatment of some illnesses. Dr Aleksej Tarasjev briefed the participants on the principles of GMO risk analysis, international instruments and the situation in Serbia, reminding that Serbia is a signatory of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Convention on Biological Diversity, fundamental international documents on the safe use of GMOs. In the course of the debate, the participants shared their opinions on the negative effects of a general ban on the production and import of GMOs in view of their considerable implementation in the treatment of grave illnesses.

Prof. Dr Miladin Sevarlic of the Belgrade Faculty of Agriculture, Rodoljub Zivadinovic, President of the Alliance of Beekeeping Organisations of Serbia and Darinka Stokic of the Domatra Centre for Improvement of Life Activities presented the results of their research in the last, fourth session. Professor Sevarlic shared facts on the negative impact the use and import of GMO containing products have on Serbian economy, also stressing its disastrous effect on Serbian agriculture. Sevarlic said that a rulebook should be adopted which would enable the practical application of the Law, adding that it is very important to mark all products containing GMOs. In the course of the discussion, the representative of the Plant Protection Directorate informed the participants that no amendments have been planned to the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms and assured them, considering the reservations voiced by the participants of the public hearing as regards the quality control of products containing GMOs, that the Republic of Serbia exercises strict safety control of products containing GMOs.

The participants of the public hearing were also addressed by MPs Zaharije Trnavcevic, who spoke of the influence of GMOs on health and the environment and Dr Aleksandra Tomic who spoke of the impact these products have on Serbian economy and listed examples of best practice in neighbouring countries which have markets for the placement of organically produced food, which is, among other things, achieved by association of organic producers.