The majority of Greeks (both citizens and farmers) want neither GMO products on their plates nor the cultivation of GMOs on their land. In 2004, all prefectures declared their area a GMO-free zone. In 2014, 27,000 citizens signed the Greenpeace petition against the nationalisation of GMO cultivation in EU member states. Greece upholds a restriction on the GMO against GM-maize MON810 under article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC.
(Updated by Greenpeace Greece on 1 April 2015)
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In October 2004, the last of the 54 prefectures voted to declare their area GMO-free. That means that the whole of Greece is now covered by regional GMO-free zones. The anti-GMO movement is growing rapidly in the country. Last research results showed that the 93% of Greeks do not want GMO-cultivation on their land nor GMO products on their plate. Greece upholds a restriction on the GM swede rape Topas 19/2 under Article 16 of EU Directive 90/220 (known as the safeguard clause), and against GM maize MON810 under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC.
GMO-Free Zones. The case of Greece, Yiannis Tolios, Economist-Researcher (Ph.D), Greek Net of Alternative Agricultural Policy of Food Sovereignty, www.ytolios.gr, April 2009 (English)
Greece - A quick glimpse on country's present state of gmo and biotech nexus, by BiotechWatch.gr, 2010
GMO Free Zones- the case of Greece, by Myrto Pispini, Greenpeace Greece, 2003
Manifesto of Hellenic convention of social & public organizations, networks and movements against GMOs, 2004
Brief report on the situation in Greece, by Paula Maier; DIO, Inspection and Certification of Organic Products, 2004
Movement for GMO-free Greece, by Paula Maier; DIO, Inspection and Certification of Organic Products, 2005
Report on GMO-free Conference Thessaloniki (Feb 2004)
US Department of Agriculture: Annunal Agricultural Biotech Report