site.btaBulgarians Want Strict Regulation of New Genomic Techniques

GB 15:02:32 04-11-2021
DD1459GB.112
112 ECONOMY - ENVIRONMENT - GENE EDITING - SURVEY

Bulgarians Want Strict Regulation
of New Genomic
Techniques


Sofia, November 4 (BTA) - Bulgarians want new genomic techniques to be strictly regulated, according to a survey commissioned by For the Earth Association. The nationally representative survey was conducted by Market Links among 1,055 respondents in August.

More than 71 per cent of respondents want strict regulation to stay and its rules to apply to the new genomic techniques, and over 60 per cent are definite about this.

Those rules require safety assessment, approval prior to authorization for plant and animal breeding, control of gene-edited food and feed products, labelling and traceability, the organization said.

The "don't know answer" was chosen by 16.5 per cent of respondents, while 12 per cent do not think those rules should apply.

The new genomic techniques are tools used in gene editing, including gene therapy in humans. Gene-edited crops are already grown in some countries. Scientists and plant protection manufacturers claim that gene-edited plants are not GMO and are safe due to greater accuracy and partial gene editing. At the same time, reports in scientific journals argue that those crops could pose specific risks to human health and the environment, For the Earth said.

The EU is to decide how to regulate new gene-edited crops in the coming months. The European Commission has taken steps towards their deregulation, which is not well received by the public, farmers, organic farmers, large retail chains, many scientists and research organizations in the EU, the environmentalists said. RY/DD



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