|
The demand for organic products has increased in the past years within the EU. People want to lead a healthier lifestyle, and they are starting to demand information regarding the exact content of the food they are consuming. In the Council of the European Union, the issue is divided. Firstly, it is a matter of weather and the environment, On one side, there's Germany, France and Italy, who have vast lands for farming and stand firmly against GMOs. Austria, Hungary, Greece and Portugal actually prohibit the production of GMOs in their countries.
"It is necessary to prohibit the import of GMOs on a Europe-wide level, in order to protect our citizens from this health hazard" - Austrian Minister
On the other hand, there's the Netherlands, Latvia and Estonia among other states that don't have such vast farming lands, and rely on GMOs to boost their agricultural productivity. The Netherlands highlighted the dependence of its economy on GMOs. The EU is already importing GMOs, so why be so adamant in banning their production? Completely banning the production of GMOs will not only hinder Dutch economy and other similar states, but that of the states that trade with them. Essentially, GMOs are less expensive than organic products. "Studies have shown that GMOs are less harmful than people think they are", claimed the Netherlands. "We depend on them to produce stronger seeds that can withstand harsher weather conditions, such as really low temperatures." France said that they would not ban GMOs, but let the consumers decide for themselves by properly labeling these products. Proper labeling of GMO based products will help EU citizens become more acquainted with what they are consuming; banning them would be detrimental for the economies of not only EU countries, but on a global level as well. However, taking into account the fact that these products contain chemicals of artificial origin, they do have an effect on consumers' health.
by Victoria Molina
by Victoria Molina