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Roundtable discussions on Genetically Modified Food, Organic Food and Agricultural Practices and Regulatory Frameworks taking place on May 17-20, 2005 all across the country
The series of roundtable discussions are being organized in the towns of Vidin, Gabrovo, Varna, Bourgas and Plovdiv jointly by ARC Fund and IRC–Bulgaria.
The main objective of this series is to mobilize stakeholders in the field of GM food and organic food and to elicit suggestions and recommendations to policy-makers for more efficient measures for consumer protection and access to unbiased information on biotech and organic products. The overall goal underpinning this initiative is to empower the Bulgarian consumer society on the issue of GMOs and thus make it an active player and significant factor in the process of both elaborating the regulatory framework and exercising consumer rights and civic control.
The participants at the roundtable discussions receive information packages that were designed to build the regional stakeholders' capacity on the issue as perceived at national and European scale. These information materials were elaborated by an expert panel set up by ARC Fund mobilizing expertise in various GM-related fields and comprising representatives of all stakeholder groups.
All recommendations for political measures for increased consumer awareness on GM food and organic food, promotion of consumers’ interests and rights, and the effective involvement of consumers in the decision-making processes, that will be generated at these round tables throughout Bulgaria will be summarized in a brochure intended for dissemination among policy-makers.
The road-show of roundtables has the following schedule:
Vidin – May 17, 2005 (Tuesday)
Gabrovo - May 18, 2005 (Wednesday)
Varna - May 19, 2005 (Thursday)
Bourgas - May 20, 2005 (Friday)
Plovdiv - May 26, 2005 (Thursday)
A draft summary of the roundtable discussions and outcomes will be published on the website right after the last event scheduled for May 26 in Plovdiv.
The project website
The schedule of round-table discussions
Outcomes of the first round-table discussion held in Sofia on May 12, 2005
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Denitsa Marinova or Ms.Christina Nedeva
ARC Fund / IRC-Bulgaria
6, Gourko Str., 1000 Sofia
tel: (+359 2) 9867557; 9867887
fax: (+359 2) 9801833
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