LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE COEXISTENCE OF CONVENTIONAL, ORGANIC AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED CULTIVATIONS

The purpose o f the paper is to determine the legal principles o f the coexistence of genetically modified, organic, and conventional cultivations, with special regard to the requirements o f ascertaining the consumers access to a differentiated range o f agricultural produce, and the natural environment protection. The coexistence o f conventional, organic and genetically modified cultivations means that they are practically, and without prejudice, capable o f functioning alongside one another. The legal norms that regulate the coexistence o f such cultivations are o f a technical nature. Legislations o f some EU member states, including that o f Italy, place the burden of ascertaining a non-collision coexistence o f cultivations on those who engage in the GMO production. As experience o f some states engaged in GMO cultivations shows, even the best regulations o f the technical aspects o f the coexistence o f GMO cultivations with conventional or ecological ones do not provide an adequate and sufficient cover to protect the latter from unintentional pollution with genetically modified material that is happening in the course o f natural processes undergoing in the nature. Apparently, such circumstances cannot be fully controlled