In mid-September the National Assembly passed a law on the restriction and ban to grow genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The law enables two kinds of protection – the geographical exclusion of Slovenia from the production GMOs which have been approved on an EU level, and a ban on their production.

The exclusion of Slovenia from GMOs already allowed in Europe can be achieved via an agreement with the European Food Safety Authority. If the member state misses the deadline or changes its mind, a ban is also possible, however the procedure is much more complicated then. In any case both options have the same effect.

The EU introduced a six-month transition period in the frameworks of which it is possible to secure geographical exclusion from the production of GMOs which are allowed or are in the process of being approved on an EU level. There are currently eight such types of GMOs. The transition period expires on Saturday.

When the law was passed in June, Agriculture Minister Dejan Židan warned that the act did not protect the consumer from genetically modified organisms in other food products. "Consumers must check whether the food product contains genetically modified products," he explained.

G. C.; translated by K. J.