www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The Lithuanian ministry decided on Tuesday that it will not issue the permit
to cultivate genetically modified summer rape for test purposes. The
decision comes amid a visit by European Union Agriculture and Rural
Development Commissioner Marianna Fischer Boel, who prompted Lithuanians not
to fear genetically modified foodstuffs. Last October, German company BASF
Plant Science GmbH applied for a permit to grow genetically modified summer
rape on the test fields of the Agriculture Institute in the district of
Klaipeda for test purposes. Their application has been denied by the
Lithuanian ministry of agriculture, April 2007.

Rape, also known as canola, is a plant in the mustard family that is used
primarily for animal feed but is also highly prized for its oil.

In considering this application, the Environment Ministry deliberated the
recommendation from the Genetically Modified Organism Control Committee and
took into account of the opinion of the Health Ministry and the Agriculture
Ministry, which disapproved of issuing a permit for cultivating genetically
modified rape on test fields for test purposes.

This was not the first application to permit growing genetically modified
plants in Lithuania for science purposes. Last year, a similar request to
permit cultivation of genetically modified potatoes on the test field of the
Agriculture Institute was likewise denied.

There has recently been much discussion on the topic of genetically modified
food in Lithuania. In her visit to the country, Commissioner Boel urged
Lithuanians not to fear genetically modified food.

Commissioner Boel said that genetically modified plants that do not cause
harm to the environment and health could be cultivated in the European
Union, yet she voiced a belief that it was imperative to avoid mixing of
genetically modified and regular or organic plants, and therefore
recommended for the member states to adopt the legislation to prevent
possible mixture of different crops.

During her visit, Commissioner Boel will accept an honorary doctorate from
the Lithuanian Agricultural University.

Despite these calls by the EU, the general Lithuanian population remains
sceptical of genetically modified food. A recent poll covering a thousand
people aged above 18 revealed that more than one-half (58.9 percent) of
Lithuania's people criticize genetically modified organisms, and more than
two-thirds (69 percent) say they do not consume foodstuffs that are
genetically modified.

Most (63 percent) of the respondents disapprove of growing of genetically
modified plants in Lithuania, and 57.8 percent believe such plants ought to
be banned. Only 17.2 percent said that cultivation of such plants is good.
When asked about the purpose of genetically modified organisms, 27.4 percent
of the people polled said they helped producing more food and fight
starvation. In the opinion of 18.9 percent of the respondents, such
organisms are necessary for scientific advancement. A lesser percentage of
the respondents say these organisms have to do with industrial development.
Nearly 2 percent of the people believe the main reason behind the GMO use is
capitalization.

[www.baltictimes.com]