The international regulation of GMOs is 20 years old

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The Cartagena Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international biosafety treaty that regulates the movement of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) between countries. The Protocol was adopted on January 29, 2000 and entered into force on September 11, 2003, to which Hungary joined in 2004. The agreement was signed by 173 countries, a list of which is available on this website. Hungary’s strong commitment to GMO-freedom is indicated by the fact that the new Basic Law, effective from 2012, sets the goal of ensuring that the domestic food industry and agriculture are free of GMOs. The Hungarian government opposes the recently published proposal from Brussels, according to which the European Commission would abolish the right of self-determination of member states in relation to the cultivation of plants produced with new genetic manipulation techniques and abolish the mandatory labeling of such products.

Hungary is among the first

Our country was the first among Central and Eastern European countries to adopt Act XXVII of 1998 on the regulation of this area, on gene technology activities. law, which is in full compliance with international regulations. Hungary has been playing an active and proactive role in the implementation of the Protocol since the creation of the Protocol. The Protocol defines the concept of biological security and ensures its uniform interpretation for each country. The aim of international regulations is to guarantee that the transport, handling and use of living, modified organisms do not have a harmful effect on biodiversity and human health.

AM