The Azorean Government announced on Friday its intention to declare the Azores a genetically modified organisms (GMO) "free zone."

"The application of the precautionary principle which advises the Azores to become a GMO free zone" was mentioned in the press release from the last meeting of the Council of the Government, presented by the Regional Secretary of the Presidency on Friday.

In this context, the Government led by Carlos César has approved a Regional Legislative Decree proposal to implement in the archipelago "relevant Community rules for regulating the use of genetically modified organisms and by-products in agriculture and agro-food industry."

According to André Bradford, the legislation which will now be submitted to the Azorean parliament "adopts a precautionary position clearly and aims to ensure the unity and transparency of internal market and food security, reducing the environmental and economic risks of using genetically modified organisms."

The new legislation "prohibits the cultivation, sowing and planting, by any method or technique, of genetically modified organisms, except for the production or introduction with  scientific research or technological development purposes with relevant public interest."

At the same meeting, the Government has decided to create a Partial Hunting Reserve on Graciosa Island in the village of Guadalupe, "in which quail hunting is prohibited as well as the practice of any other activity that  may harm the normal development of this species."

Furthermore, it has been also authorised the signing of a contract-programme between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Azorina - Sociedade de Gestão Ambiental e Conservação da Natureza, S.A. up to a maximum amount of 421,695.43 Euros, in order to subsidise the ongoing investments in the implementation of the Land Management Plan of Furnas and Sete Cidades Crater Lakes Hydrographic Basins.