Summary :
1.
2.
3.
4.
What are GMOs and GMH?
Why create genetically modified organisms?
Are genetically modified foods dangerous?
How is legally settled the question with GMH and
GMOs in the European Union?
5. What types of GMH are present on the Bulgarian
market and European market?
6. How was normative settled question with GMH in
Bulgaria?
7. How does the control the market of GMH in
Bulgaria?
 GMO can be microorganisms, plants or animals (without human)
whose genome has been changed with help of genetic engineering.
Genetic engineering is modern biotechnology in which one or a group
of genes are “cut “from one organism and “put” in other in this way
created an organism with new characteristics .
GMH consist of GMOs ,or contain, or produced by GMO.
Tomato
Ketchup
What are the components of foods that are produced by GMOs?
For example:
• Vegetable oil was produced by GMsoybean or GM rape seed
• The vitamins which are added to fruit juices and breakfast cereals and they
are using GM bacteriums.
• The sugar produced by GMsugar beet
These components (vegetable oil, vitamins, sugar) subsequently they are used
in foods such as dough , in the sugar and confectionery products etc…
In general,
organisms
are
genetically
modified to give
them new
Very
often the
plants are
genetically
modified.The
genetically
modification
characteristics,
new qualities , which are consistented with economic,
is
used in the farming:
technical, agronomic perspective.
 To create crops with raised resistance to diseases, enemies to
plants,
weeds
1. With
their help
produce vitamins , enzymes, sweeteners and spices,
 To
improve
taste
and nutritional
quality of products
which
are
used asthe
food
additives
in food production.
 To prolongation thr expiry date
 To create нискоалергенни food
 Greater resistance to low temperatures, the drought
2. Used in the process of fermentation and ripening of food
products in order to cut down expenses of the production.
In contrast
to plants
experiments
with genetically
animals
Lately
created
GMplats
with raised
nutritionalmodified
value, such
as:are a little
. In genetically modified animals is aimed to creating new breeds , which have
a
rate
of growth,
greater
productivity,
more resistant
higher
Sort of
saya
and rape
,from
which oil are
is extracted
withtoa diseases,
similar
have
altered fatofinfatty
meatacids
and milk,
contenthealth
of protein
in milk, eggs from
composition
andraised
the proven
effects
which chicks hatched with a higher resistance to viral diseases. at the present
 Sorts with raised quantity of gluten in the flour (this improves the
time there isn’t genetically modified animal which is used as as a raw material
quality
products produced by the same flour) and raised content of
for food of
production.
starch.

Sorts
ofhave
tomatoes,
strawberries,
with
raised
Since
1995
started bananas,
mass cultivation
of crops pineapple
and GM plats
.Today
about
sweetness
and
1/3
of farmland
inflavor
the world are occupied by biotechnological crops. Basic
producers
GMplants
corps are
USA,
India,
China,
Argentina,
Paraguay,
 Sorts ofofrice
calledand
“Golden
Rice”
with
raised
content
of vitamin
A
Uruguay,
Brazil,
Mexico,
South
Africa,
(this is due
golden
color)
and
iron.Australia, Philippines, Romania.
For now in European Union are cultivating only GMcorn ,which is resistant against
one type of organism on it- in Spain, France, Czech Republic and Germany. For
now in Bulgaria have been made experiments with corn, potatoes and sunflowers,
and experimental work conducted in laboratory conditions with many kinds of
cultivated plants.
According to more scientists there isn’t reason for disquiet. Before
products will be put on the market , they pass through extremely precise
assessment of the risk for to human health, animals and the environment
to guarantee the absence of unfavourable effects.
But according to other scientists studies have not enough yet and at the
moment can’t foresee all possible long-term effects on human health and
environment. They think that it’s unnatural insertion of genes of viruses,
animals and insects in the genome of the fruit , vegetables and other
animals.In nature similar process isn’t doing. Some scientists fear that
the implantation of bacteria and viruses into crops can lead to
spontaneous occurrence of highly pathogenic viruses and bacteria with
raised resistance to antibiotics which can to be used as bio-weapons.
For now in European Union is active the legislation on GMOs which
is considered the strictest in the world. In 2004 was operated new
legislative framework for all member countries of the EU about GM
food.The requirements of Regulation 1829/2003 were introducted, they
deals with GMOs , GM food and forages and dealing with the
protection of consumer health and safety ,labeling of food.
In the EU is premising limit for GMO content which is 0.9% in Korea
- 3% in Japan- 5%.
It is possible one product to be dirty with GMO in the harvest the
crops, conservation transport or processing. These products are not
labeled as GMH, if the GMO in them is below 0.9% and appear
accidental or technically unavoidable.
In the summer of 2004 was operated new law for food,in which all
questions abot GM food were settled. GMH competent authority is the
Ministry of Health. He was set up commissions on new genetically
modified foods. This is a National Expert commission, which consists of
15 scientists in the medicine, biotechnology, toxicology, molecular
biology, molecular genetics, food technology, agronomy, stock-breeding
and environmental protection. This commission gives attitudes to
applications for permission to market a GMH, GMOs for use in foods and
as food containing components, produced from GMOs.
Everybody, who wants to put on the market a GMO or GMH in or as
food , is obliged to making:
1. appreciation of risk for human health
2. appreciation of risk for environment
1) A person ,who wants to market a a GMO or GMH sells written
application
andincluded
English)intothe
thepublic
Ministry
of Health,
which
All
approved (Bulgarian
products are
register
of GMinfood.
contains
all available
information
about
the food of
or Health.
organism and full
This
list published
on the
website of
the Ministry
risk appreciation.
2) National Expert commission gives her attitude.
3) InThen
Ministry of
Health sends
an application
and
all documents to
casethe
of eventual
appearance
of illegal
GMO in the
European
the European
FoodStates
Safetyare
Authority-EFSA.
(Asystem
commission
of highly
market,
all Member
informed by the
for quick
qualified experts).
publication
of food and forages (RASFF) the European
4) Commission
The attitude coordinates
of EFSA is made
public
and and
the community
could
all after
actions
measures between
comment
it.
Member
States.
5) On the basis of attitude of EFSA, the European Commission made
suggestion for the permission or refusal to the marketing of GMOs.
(Permission is granted for a maximum 10-year period.)
Cornmeal-Bulgarian production and import
Popcorn-import
Soya four- import
Soya гранулати и изолати- import
Sausages (with components of genetically modified soy beans) Bulgarian production
Every permissive product in EU can be legally put on the Bulgarian
market – often they are GM corn , soya and colza , which usually is
rarely consumed directly.From these products are produced foods
(flour, starch, confectionery products etc.).
There is sweet corn, which is legal for direct human consumption. Soy
beans are used for production of soy oil, soy sauces, tofu, гранулати ,
sausages.
In Bulgaria
there
are 28 РИОКОЗ,
takes
samples
of food
offered in
In 2009
for the
presence
of GMOswhich
will be
check
samples
from:
supermarkets, stores network, producers of food etc. The control is made
Soya- Soya bean,soya гранулати , Soya concentrates, soya изолатиaccording to a yearly plan under the indications of the Ministry of Health.
import
As permissive GMO and GMH in EU have already been put on tests for
Soya
flourare safe for humans, animals and the environment. In this case ,
safety, they
Витабел,
soya
diced
the control of
foodcutlets,
containing
GMOs is to check the whether the labeling
Meat
productscold control
cuts, kebapche,
meatballs, cutlets, sausages and
requirements
- through
of documentation.
Regularly take samples of food and products which haven’t label . All food
other.
samples are sent to the Metropolitan РИОКОЗ ,where is the National
Waffles
Laboratory for
genetically
modified
foods.
Chocolate
and
chocolate
products
Maize grain, maize flour, corn bread
Popcorn
Corn chips- import
Източници:
Ръководство за контрол на генетично модифицирани храни
ГМО и ГМХ , биологични храни и съвместно общуване земеделските
практики-Информационен материал
ГМХ в България .Какво трябва да знаем за тях?- брошура изготвена
по туининг проект “Химикали и храни”