European Food Safety Authority, GMO Unit, IT-43126, Parma, Italy.
J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Feb;94(3):381-7. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6358. Epub 2013 Sep 18.
Member states in the European Union (EU) implemented both ex ante coexistence regulations and ex post liability schemes to ensure that genetically modified (GM) and non-GM crops can be cultivated side by side without excluding any agricultural option. Although proportionate coexistence is best achieved if regulated in a flexible manner, most implemented coexistence regulations merely rely on rigid measures. Flexible coexistence regulations, however, would reduce the regulatory burden on certain agricultural options and avoid jeopardizing economic incentives for coexistence. Flexibility can be integrated at: (i) the regulatory level by relaxing the rigidity of coexistence measures in ex ante regulations, yet without offsetting incentives to implement coexistence measures; (ii) the farm level by recommending the use of pollen barriers instead of large and fixed isolation distances; and (iii) the national/regional level by allowing diversified coexistence measures, which are adapted to the heterogeneity of farming in the EU. Owing to difficulties of implementation, the adoption of flexible and proportionate coexistence regulations will inevitably entail challenges.
欧盟成员国实施了事前共存法规和事后责任制度，以确保可以同时种植转基因和非转基因作物，而不会排除任何农业选择。尽管以灵活的方式进行适度共存是最佳选择，但大多数实施的共存法规仅依赖于刚性措施。然而，灵活的共存法规将减少对某些农业选择的监管负担，并避免危及共存的经济激励。灵活性可以整合到以下方面：（i）通过放宽事前法规中共存措施的刚性，在监管层面上实现灵活性，但不影响实施共存措施的激励；（ii）在农场层面上，建议使用花粉屏障而不是大而固定的隔离距离；（iii）在国家/地区层面上，允许采用多样化的共存措施，以适应欧盟农业的异质性。由于实施困难，采用灵活和适度的共存法规必然会带来挑战。
