.Ireland currently imports GMO soya and GMO maize and of the estimated seven million tonnes of grains and animals feeds imported in 2018, we believe at least two thirds were of GMO origin. Under EU rules we cannot grow these crops and therefore we should not import them. We believe that the continued use of animal feed of GMO origin places the integrity of Ireland's hard won reputation for the highest quality agricultural produce and food at risk.
In addition Ireland imports over 200,000 tonnes of palm oil and palm kernels; it is well documented how the unregulated farming of these products has a high environmental cost in the developing world and there is no reason for us to import them when we have suitable native alternatives. We wish to ban these products from Ireland and petition the minister of agriculture to legislate for this ban and lobby his EU counterparts to do likewise.