Several Hundred Rally in Sofia for Anti-GMO Concert

"Bulgaria, Europe - GMO Free" read the banners of these protesters who came to the anti-GMO concert in Sofia Sunday. Photo by BGNES

Several hundred Bulgarians attended a concert against genetically modified organisms in downtown Sofia Sunday.

The event featuring popular Bulgarian music performers was organized by the Initiative Committee of Parents and Citizens in cooperation with other NGOs of environmentalists and agricultural producers.

Representatives of the latter have pointed out that 70% of the agricultural land in Bulgaria could be certified for the production of organic food.

The banners at the concert read, “Spare Our Land”, “Give Our Kids a Chance”, “Today GMOs Kill Bees, Tomorrow – People.” One of the more ingenious banners showed a picture of Environment Minister Nona Karadzhova and her deputy Evdokiya Maneva portrayed as “GMO dealers.”

Earlier on Sunday, representatives of the involved NGOs met with the Parliament Chair Tsetska Tsacheva. In their words, Tsacheva has assured them that Prime Minister Boyko Borisov wants to defend the public interest as far as GMOs are concerned, and that she will be monitoring the changes in the GMO Act, and the relevant EU legislation in that area will be reviewed closely.

The controversial GMO Act, whose amendments provide for testing of GMOs and therefore their release in the Bulgarian environment, was adopted at first reading in January, which led to vocal, though not so well attended protest rallies around the country. The second reading of the GMO Act is expected in the coming week.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has declared himself for a five-year moratorium on GMO tests while the public debate could lead to a final decision on whether GMOs should be allowed in Bulgaria.

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