Inspection to carry out control of soy fields

BELGRADE – The Phytosanitary Inspection of the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture will conduct a thorough inspection of soybean crops and oversee the purchases of soy grain with a view to preventing the cultivation and trade of GMO soy in Serbia, the ministry has said in a release.

The Ministry of Agriculture has warned agricultural producers that Serbia’s GMO law bans this type of production and trade in the country.

The Inspection has prepared programs to tour the regions where soy is grown and if it finds GMO soy fields, the crops will be destroyed and their owners will be subject to sanctions as prescribed by the GMO law.

Their farms will be placed in standby status, which means losing all kinds of incentives, the release said.

Special measures will be taken during soy grain purchase, where considerable responsibility will fall on warehousers and buyers.

The Agriculture Ministry's Phytosanitary Inspection conducts regular controls of soybean trade in Serbia and warns farmers to buy exclusively the seeds that are labeled.
“We wish to inform soy producers that EU member states are inerested in our soy grain for the very reason that it is not GMO,” the release said.

Photo Tanjug/J. Pap