Ljajic: Serbia belongs in WTO but GMO ban is obstacle to membership

Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic said on Tuesday that Serbia belongs in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

But he was not specific about when it might join the organization, the Beta agency is reporting.

The minister told reporters that a ban on GMO trade was still in force in Serbia, which was an obstacle to WTO membership.

"There is a demand for amending the relevant legislation, but it has not begun yet. There is public resistance to the change. Unless we change the law, we can't expect to join the WTO," Ljajic said.
The minister also said that the legal change might be sufficient, but that rigorous rules might be needed in addition to it, too.

"I'm sure that GMO trade wouldn't exist even if we changed the law, because we can introduce strict rules related to GMO trade, which will make it very difficult, he said, adding...