Country Reports Coexistence in Austria

Coexistence in Austria is governed at the state level. Most of Austria’s states have already passed regulations on coexistence, and those that haven’t are in the process of drafting legislation. The Austrian government stipulates in the genetic engineering act that coexistence measures must safeguard conventional and organic farming.

The state laws on coexistence have some basic commonalities. They generally demand that farmers take care to prevent the mixing of GM and non-GM goods. Any farmer wishing to grow GM crops is obligated to report the planting to a public register. Also, if a conventional or organic farmer suffers economic losses due to unwanted mixing with GMOs, farmers growing GM crops in the vicinity are automatically liable for losses. A farmer can only be excused from liability if they can prove they were not the source of the admixture – in other words, guilty until proven innocent.

The European Commission considers the state of Upper Austria’s coexistence regulations to be against EU policies on GMOs. The case is pending at the European Court of Justice.

It is important to note that Austria has banned every GM plant that has been authorised by the EU for cultivation, which makes it impossible for farmers to grow GMOs and makes coexistence regulations irrelevant for the time being.

See also on GMO-Compass:

• Coexistence: Different Agricultural Systems Working Side by Side