Officially, there is no commercial cultivation of genetically modified plants. Although Bulgarian laws governing genetic engineering actually exceed EU regulations in some aspects, on the whole they have not been adjusted to EU levels since joining the EU.

Bulgaria's previous administration had decided to make no changes unless forced by the EU, and a change of government in 2009 also led to a change in policy with regard to genetic engineering. This was probably due to massive pressure by the industry and the American government; reportedly one topic of discussion during a meeting between the prime minister and James Warlick, the American ambassador to Bulgaria, was the strict Bulgarian laws that practically prohibit cultivation of GMOs.

Even if the basic tenor of Bulgarian law (dating from before EU times) conforms to EU release and labeling regulations, some specifications markedly exceed protective limitations set by the EU. Hence release and marketing of genetically modified plants such as tobacco, grapes, wheat, vegetables or fruits are strictly prohibited (in contrast to the EU where case-by-case decisions would be within the realm of the possible). Additionally 30-k-protective zones, where cultivation of GMO plants is totally prohibited, have been drawn up around all ecologically sensitive areas that are listed in a national nature reserve registry. In addition ecologically run farms enjoy special protection as no cultivation of genetically engineered plants nearby is allowed.

More than any others, these three points proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the gentech lobby. The new government which took office in July 2009, had been pursuing a double strategy: it ruled for a five-year-moratorium on cultivation, but simultaneously introduced a far more liberal law governing genetic engineering, which would have allowed large-scale cultivation after five years. The Agrolink group (supported by us), Za Zemiata and other NGOs protested against this compromise of simultaneously liberalizing the law, while at the same time announcing a multi-year-moratorium. Several appearances of the Canadian farmer and recipient of the Alternative Nobel Prize, Percy Schmeiser in October 2009 (made possible by grassroots' financing) became an important impetus towards instigating an extensive civil rights movement, the size of which had never been seen in the more recent history of Bulgaria, as well as a widely acclaimed film portraying this internationally famous critic of the Monsanto company which was shown on channel 1 of the Bulgarian National TV company.

Bulgarian civil society was enormously mobilized by this conflict surrounding the amendment to the genetic engineering law. 18.000 citizens signed a petition demanding "Bulgaria Free of GMO". During the first three months of 2010 twenty-seven groups merged into an anti-GMO-coalition, with a total of 550.000 members on Facebook alone. In addition to the capital Sofia, sixteen further demonstrations were organized in seven other cities. Thousands of postcards with children's drawings were sent to the prime minister and the European parliament. An opinion poll showed that 97% of the population want Bulgaria to be GMO-free. All the media repeatedly reported on the protests, which came to a successful conclusion in March 2010.

Faced with massive civil rights protests, the government and a large majority of the Bulgarian parliament (144 yes votes, 1 nay vote, and three abstentions) were forced to vote the exact opposite of their original plan. Instead of watering down the strict genetic engineering law, the government not only had to rescind their proposals for modification, but also were actually forced to tighten the law.

They maintained those regulations that had exceeded EU regulations.

·     No cultivation of GMOs in nature reserves and Natura-2000-areas as well as in a 30 kilometer buffer area.

·      Use of public discussion forums and educational measures in order to convince other farmers and landowners to keep their fields free from genetically engineered plants.

Newly added regulations, which also significantly exceed EU-guidelines:

·     No cultivation of GMOs within a 10 kilometer radius of stationary bee hives.

·     No cultivation of GMOs within a seven kilometer radius around ecologically run farms.

·     As soon as another EU member state imposes a national ban on an EU-approved genetically modified plant, the precautionary principle takes effect, and Bulgaria automatically falls in line with the ban (right now this applies to MON 810, prohibited in several EU countries, but also for another genetically modified plant that has been approved within the EU, the Amflora potato, prohibited in Austria since April 2010; a ban that has automatically taken effect in Bulgaria).

·     Anyone found in violation of these rules, may be fined between 250.000 and 500.000 euros.

Due to the administration's exposure of various improper dealings in the food sector, parliament had agreed on new labeling regulations the day before the vote. Between 2004 and 2009, state food safety agencies had discovered that one third of all samples contained unspecified GMOs; while in 2009 64 per cent of all Bulgarian food manufacturers surveyed were found to have used more unspecified GMOs than permitted by law (in 2005 this figure stood at a "mere" 30 per cent of manufacturers). Both test results were kept secret for a long time. It was only due to Agrolink's persistent research efforts that these results are on public record. The media have taken up the topic of genetic engineering with great enthusiasm following publication, while simultaneously increasing pressure upon the government.

This scandal clearly showed that at this writing the Bulgarian administration is incapable of controlling the market, which led to the passage of a new law tightening labeling regulations. From now on warning labels will have to be placed on products warning of GMO additives, whose lettering must be twice the size of the other inscriptions. - This is yet another exemplary Bulgarian policy which could serve as an example for the other EU-countries.