No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessLawmakers begin discussions on bill that would place a moratorium on GMO...

Lawmakers begin discussions on bill that would place a moratorium on GMO crop production in Costa Rica

A Legislative Assembly commission on agriculture on Tuesday will begin discussing a bill that would place a moratorium on the production of genetically modified crops in the country.

The proposal responds to demands from environmentalists, farmers and other groups opposed to the continued introduction of GMOs into Costa Rica’s agriculture. More than 60 of the country’s 81 municipalities have banned GMOs in some form, but those regulations are mostly unenforceable because GMO projects already have been approved by the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry and are allowed to continue even in areas with active bans.

The bill calls for a moratorium on GMOs “to be maintained across the country until there is certainty and scientific consensus on the risks involved.”

Anti-GMO groups called the proposal a “visionary step for the country to become an international leader in the field of sustainability,” according to a statement issued by the Costa Rican Federation for Environmental Conservation (FECON).

“Authorizing transgenics is a step in the wrong direction, and we must establish a moratorium in order to protect the goose that lays the golden eggs, which is the agro-biodiversity of our rural areas and our organic agriculture,” FECON’s statement said.

The Agriculture and Livestock Ministry approved the first GMO project in 1991. At the time multinational biotech company Monsanto began growing genetically modified soybeans and cotton to create seed for export. To date, none of the GMOs produced in Costa Rica are licensed for consumption.

Recommended: What you need to know about GMOs in Costa Rica

Currently more than 100 companies from the National Chamber of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism have sent lawmakers petitions urging them to approve the moratorium, arguing that GMOs threaten eco-tourism development in the country.

In September, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court struck down the government’s regulatory framework on GMOs, declaring the process of approval for GMO projects unconstitutional.

In recent months lawmakers on the commission have heard from anti-GMO advocates including Health Minister María Helena López, the president of the small- and medium-sized farmers group UPA Nacional, Guido Vargas, José Oviedo, from the Agroalimentary Council, and Fabián Pacheco, a member of both the Bloque Verde conservation group and the National Biosecurity Commission. Their arguments focused mainly on three issues: patent control, health risks and the spread of “monoculture” and industrial farming.

Discussions at the Assembly’s Agricultural Affairs Commission will result in a report on the bill that will be submitted for approval before the full Assembly.

Trending Now

Why This U.S. Expat in Costa Rica Chooses Local Over Headlines

In the weeks leading up to my trip to the US, I scanned several news sites both left-leaning and right-leaning to better inform myself...

Melinda Hildebrand Confirmed as US Ambassador to Costa Rica

The United States Senate has approved Melinda "Mindy" Hildebrand as the new ambassador to our country, marking a fresh chapter in bilateral ties between...

Costa Rica Shaken by a Quake with No Injuries Reported

A strong earthquake struck near Quepos late last night, sending tremors across parts of our country and even into our neighbor Panama. The quake,...

Venezuela Sloth Rescue Exposes Wildlife Electrocution Crisis

Rescuers in Venezuela recently saved a sloth trapped on electrical lines, a scene that played out on social media and drew attention to a...

Belize Signs Safe Third Country Deal with US for Asylum Seekers

Belize and the United States have sealed a deal that positions Belize as a temporary host for migrants pursuing asylum in the U.S., according...

Costa Rica U-17 Women’s Team Earns Historic Draw vs Brazil

Costa Rica's under-17 women's national soccer team marked a milestone in their history with a 1-1 draw against Brazil during the FIFA U-17 Women's...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica