Apr 10, 2006

Coexistence

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Denmark

National regulations on coexistence

The Danish Coexistence Act and two more implementing ordinances have been in force since April 2005. The key points are:

  • Separation rules: 200 metres for maize, 50 metres for feed and sugar beet (2000 metres from seed production areas), 20 metres for potatoes (the distances are designed to achieve a threshold of 0.1 per cent for adventitious GMO contamination.)
  • Cultivation conditions, e.g. cleaning equipment.
  • Farmers must inform the authorities, neighbouring farmers, marketing partners and contractors of the GMO cultivation.
  • Seed dealers must register before selling GM seed and keep accounts of sales.
  • Liability: Farmers who grow GM crops are liable on proof of fault for any sales losses incurred by their neighbours as a result of GMO contamination.
  • All GMO farmers must contribute to a liability fund that will compensate for losses which cannot be attributed to the fault of a GMO farmer. The European Commission approved this compensation fund on 23 November 2005.