Bulgaria Confirms Ban on Growing GM Crops

Bulgaria's Agriculture Ministry has confirmed that the country will remain free from cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops.

The position has been stated in 10 letters of notification to the the European Commission to ensure that no GM products would be grown in Bulgaria, the ministry said in a statement.

Under Directive 2001/18/ EC, each member state has the opportunity to declare by October 3, 2015 whether it wishes to ban the cultivation of GM products for which applications have been submitted or authorizations have been issued, according to the statement.

The ban on growing GM crops in Bulgaria covers eight varieties of maize, one variety of soybeans and one variety of carnations.