Policy Making

Adventitious presence of GMOs in conventional seeds and coexistence

Coexistence

Coexistence refers to the ability of farmers to make a practical choice between conventional, organic and GM crop production, in compliance with the legal obligations for labelling and/or purity criteria. None of these types of agriculture should be excluded in the EU.

The possibility of adventitious presence of GM crops in non-GM crops can't be dismissed, and may have commercial implications for the farmers whose crops are affected. Consequently, suitable measures during cultivation, harvest, transport, storage, and processing may be necessary to ensure coexistence. Coexistence thus concerns only the economic implications of GMO admixture, the measures to achieve sufficient segregation between GM and non-GM production and the costs of such measures.

On 23 July 2003, the Commission adopted a Recommendation on guidelines for the development of national strategies and best practices, to help Member States develop national legislative or other strategies for co-existence.

Commission Decision of 21 June 2005 establishes a network group for the exchange and coordination of information concerning coexistence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops.

More information on coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming can be found here.