GMOS IN CROATIA: SLOW ACCEPTANCE BY SCIENTISTS,

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000353 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE ROME FOR FAS USDA FOR FAS/OSTA MERRITT CHESLEY AND ELIZABETH JONES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR TBIO ETRD HR SUBJECT: GMOS IN CROATIA: SLOW ACCEPTANCE BY SCIENTISTS, CONTINUED FEAR AMONG PUBLIC ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Acceptance of biotechnology in agriculture and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in general is increasing somewhat among the scientific community in Croatia, but among the public, fear and skepticism remain. In alignment with EU laws, Croatian laws and regulations allow for registration of trace amounts of GMO content in food, but restrictive procedures and prevalent negative public attitudes continue to prevent any imports or production. End summary. ¶2. (U) The proceedings at two recent events highlighted the Croatian public's continued skepticism toward biotechnology in agriculture. Biotech was one of the focus topics of this year's Annual Feed Conference held in Opatija June 1-3. Post's agricultural specialist, who attended the conference, found little change in attitude from prior events. Acceptance of biotech in the scientific community has grown somewhat, and several (Croatian and German) scientists presented the results of their tests showing no negative effects from biotech feed. Overall, however, the discussions at the conference indicated that attitudes toward biotech among Croatian society in general remain very negative. ¶3. (U) Unrelated to the Feed Conference, at a press conference on June 4, a University of Zagreb philosophy professor presented the conclusions of the annual Losinj Days of Bioethics, including a warning that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could enter Croatia. He requested that Croatian laws be changed to forbid planting of genetically modified seeds even for trials; to require labeling of products with any GMO content, regardless how small; and to include a precautionary principle by which use of GMOs could be prevented based on a measure of harmfulness. The professor also alleged that the government's advisory Council on GMO "works in secrecy." Interestingly, however, he noted that of the council's 17 members, only he and one other are critical of GMOs. ¶4. (U) Current Croatian laws and regulations align with EU laws on GMOs. Food products with GMO content are allowed and do not have to be labeled if the GMO content is below 0.9 percent and came from an "EU registered event." Any seed to be imported, however, must be registered. While the regulations do not explicitly prohibit GM seed, the testing and registration procedure is restrictive enough to be a de facto ban: the precautionary principle applies, such that approval can be denied at any point of the multi-step process if there is concern of a harmful effect on human health. Regardless of the regulations, however, no companies currently import or produce any agricultural products with known GMO content. They are likely influenced by lessons learned from prior accidental incidents in which trace amounts of GMO were found in seed or food products and caused strong public reactions and significant market consequences for the companies involved. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: The philosophy professor's comments to the press typify the situation in Croatia regarding GMOs. Public fear of GMOs is prevalent and encouraged, with little regard for fact checking or scientific basis. It is particularly unfortunate that the rhetoric this time came from a member of the government's Council on GMOs. His criticisms seem to ignore the fact that Croatian law is already highly restrictive of GMOs, and may serve only to continue to stoke public fears on the issue. BRADTKE