Georgia

Updates + Overviews

Currently there are no GMO-free regions in Georgia

Georgia is currently elaborating a National Biosafety Legislation. At the moment, the introduction and distribution of GMOs is not regulated at all.

In this context, the Greens Movement of Georgia (Friends of the Earth Georgia) initiated discussions and a coalition of interested NGOs, organic agricultural associations and organic farmers. This coalition is trying to lead the process of law-drafting towards declaring Georgia GMO-Free.

Organisations and institutions active on GMO

The Greens Movement of Georgia / Friends of the Earth - Georgia
ELKANA, Biological Farming Association:
Tel + 995 32 536486; Fax: +995 32 536487,
e-mail: biofarm@elkana.org.ge; pr@elkana.org.ge
ATA, Agro-technology Association
GMO-free-Caucasus:
In December 2004 participants to the first Caucasian Regional Biosafety Conference organized by the Greens Movement of Georgia, decided to create GM-Free Caucasus Network. Later, after the similar meeting in Central Asia, the network was enlarged and in collaboration with CIS Alliance on Biosafety covers the whole former Soviet Union space. The network consists of NGOs from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Main demand of the network from the Governments of mentioned countries is to introduce 5-year moratorium on import and cultivation of GMOs and to create necessary legislative basis for declaring the regions of these countries and/or whole countries GM-Free.

Petitions

GMO-free Regions and areas: Petition to the European Commission. Download in pdf-format   doc-format
Petition "Save our Seeds" to the European Commission. Download the petition here

Other background information

Issues of Biosafety and Agriculture Diversity in Georgia – Present Situation and Future Perspectives, workshop conducted by Elkana on June 8-9, 2006.
GE Situation in Georgia A Short Overview, by Mariam Jorjadze Biological Farming Association “ELKANA”