Bio-Safety Policy in the EU Multi-Level System: A Movement Toward Regulatory Differentiation?

The regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been a very controversial issue in European Union (EU) policy-making. The policy preferences of the member states vary greatly, which complicates the definition of a coherent strategy for food and agriculture governance in the future. This paper analyzes the creation of GMO-free regions in the EU member states. In doing this, it proceeds in three steps. First, it illustrates in a descriptive fashion the spread of GMO-free regions throughout Europe. This first analysis shows that the number of GMO-free regions has grown notably in the past few years. Often the GMO-free regions are created in those member states that also established a national ban on GMO cultivation, but there are also interesting exceptions from this rule. Second, the paper seeks to explain why regions decide to declare themselves GMO-free. To this end, it tests a number of potential explanatory factors derived from theories of political economy and political geography, including the degree of regional autonomy, the characteristics of the nation-wide regulatory regime on GMOs, and the socioeconomic condition at the regional level. Third, the paper discusses to what extent the visible tendency of regulatory differentiation at both the national and regional level can be regarded as a general development to be expected with regard to EU food and agriculture governance in the multi-level system.