Poland faces lawsuits and fines over GMO ban

According to polls, almost 80% of the public do not want to purchase GMO products. The previous government's Environment Minister refused to allow such products onto the market. According to the calculations of the Office of the Committee for the European Integration (UKIE), if Poland continues to ban GMO foods, it can face a fine of from EUR 4,300 to EUR 260,000 per each day of delay. However, if the EU court rules that Poland has violated EU law, then companies trading GMO products will be able to flood the country with lawsuits. "There is no final opinion from the new minister yet. As a general rule, we do not want to admit genetically modified crops in Poland, as they threaten bio-diversity," said Michał Milewski, acting spokesperson of the Environment Ministry. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 34; 1-2 December) M.M.