Following proposals regarding GMO cultivation presented by European Commissioner John Dalli, Alternattiva Demokratika called upon the Maltese government to register its opposition, as the proposal will facilitate access of Genetically Modified Organisms in the EU and Malta.

Spokesperson on agriculture and animal welfare Simon Galea said:

"AD strongly believes that GMO cultivation should be banned from the EU territory and Malta has a role to play in this regard, where it can declare itself a GMO-free territory and oppose the European Commission's proposals.

"EU member states should be legally bound to adhere with an EU ban on GMO cultivation and not left decided on individual basis to grant permission for GMO cultivation. Pollination knows no intra community borders, and this can result in irreversible GMO contamination from one country to the next and from one field to the next."

AD chairman Michael Briguglio added:

Given that the EU is a free trade area, it is very difficult to verify movement of GMOs from one country to the other.

"The European Commission's proposals, which will allow individual countries to permit GMO cultivation, are only to the benefit of big GMO companies that aim to make farmers dependent on their products.

"Together with other European Green Parties, environmental NGOs, consumer organisations and farmers we are therefore opposing Commissioner Dalli's proposals."