Public Acceptance of the Production, Dissemination and Use of Genetically Modified Organisms and Derived from them Foods in Bulgaria

National Center
Sociological Research Of Public Awareness

National Assembly Of Bulgaria

24, June - 2, July, 2000

NCIOM, Sofia, “Kn. Batamberg”sq. #1
tel:00 359 2 9840 31 29;003592 85 56
fax:003592987 34 93
E-mail:nciom@nt52.parliament.bg

The team involved and passport of the research
Data Comments
Graphic attachments

The Team

Comments: Dobrian Dobrianov, Ivailo Hristov and Plamen Ivanov

Period: 24.06 - 02.07.2000

Methodology of registration: National representative research following the method of semistandard interview. Planned volume - 1260 interviews in 125 towns and villages

Codes, logical view, display of data: Rashkova, Liubena Gospodinova, Ilia Naumov and Nikoloai Kostov

Computer and graphic display: Angel Sharov, Svetoslav Mitev

Coordination with the national network: Darinka Nikolova, Eleonora Pavlova and the heads of the regional teams of NCIOM

Comments of data

Most of the bulgarians /92%/ don’t know, whether foods, derived from GM plant and animal species, are being produced in Bulgaria /FGMS/. 8% are those, who know that such foods are being produced in Bulgaria.

89% don’t know about the sale of FGMS in our country.

High educated people are better informed, compared with others, about the production and dissemination of FGMS . From them 22% know, that in our country are being produced FGMS, and one quarter of them know, that they are being sold.

4% of the bulgarians have tasted FGMS. Half of the interviewed haven’t consumed them so far, and 45% don’t know whether they have eaten such foods. Foods derived from GMOs are being eaten mostly by people from the capital and people with high education.

72% of the interviewed are lacking of information about the problem. This is valid mostly for people with higher living standard. Poorer and lower educated people are less interested in additional information.

Bulgarians would eat FGMS, if they are sure FGMS are harmless /46%/ and if they are cheaper than traditional products /10%/. 23% of the come of age bulgarians, would never eat FGMS. 19% have never thought about that and can’t give any answer.

Younger people, people in their active age, high educated people, people living without any privation in Sofia and the regional centers would consume only, if they are sure, that the new products are safe for peoples’ health. Older people, low educated people and the people with low living standard would be attracted by the lower prices, more than all other respondents. At lowest degree prone to be led by health concerns are the retired people.

42% of the interviewed would consume FGMS, after consultation with their doctor. 10% would confide the specialists in the field of biotechnologies and genetic engineering. One quarter of the people don’t know whom to consult with, and 6% don’t consider it necessary to consult with whomever at all.

Half of the interviewed have no opinion, whether in our country is necessary FGMS to be produced. 36% are against, and 16% think, there is nothing wrong in FGMS. Half of the people have no opinion about the import of FGMS, and 37% are against. 13% approve the import of FGMS.

All interviewed /99%/ people want to be imposed a strict control over the whole process - from the change in the genetic structure of a plant or animal organism to the production and dissemination of GM products on the shelves. Most of the people can’t estimate - is there or not for the time being, any control over FGMS or whether it is effective. 25% think control over FGMS is inefficient, and 6% consider it enough strict. According to 85%, labeling of FGMS would increase effectiveness of GM control. Two thirds of the bulgarians support the idea, FGMS to be sold in special shops or on separate shelves just for them.

More than half of the citizens /53%/ want a moratorium over production of FGMS to be imposed, until harmonization of the Bulgarian legislative standards with those in the EU.

41% have no opinion.

Graphic atachments

Do you know, whether foods derived from GM plants are being produced in our country?

	yes	no	total
*sex*
male	8.8	91.2	100.0
female	8.7	91.3	100.0
*age*
up to 29	9.1	90.9	100.0
between 30 - 39	10.2	89.8	100.0
between 40 - 49	12.3	87.7	100.0
between 50 - 59	7.0	93.0	100.0
over 60	6.2	93.8
*education*
high	21.3	78.7	100.0
between high and middle	14.2	85.8	100.0
middle	7,7	92.3	100.0
basic	4.7	95.3	100.0
lower than basic	1.3	98.7	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	10.0	90.0	100.0
regional center	8.4	91.6	100.0
town	9.4	90.6	100.0
village	8.0	92.0	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	9.6	90.4	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	100.0	100.0
Turkish	9.3	90.7	100.0
Gypsy	0	100.0	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	100.0	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	14.0	86.0	100.0
with some privation	11.0	89.0	100.0
with a big privation	5.7	94.3	100.0
in poverty	6.1	93.9	100.0

Do you know, whether foods derived from GM animals are being produced in our country?

	yes	no	total
*sex*
male	8.8	91,2	100.0
female	8.7	91.3	100.0
*age*
up to 29	9.1	90.9	100.0
between 30 - 39	10.2	89.8	100.0
between 40 - 49	12.3	87.7	100.0
between 50 - 59	7.0	93.0	100.0
over 60	6.2	93.8	100.0
*education*
high	21.3	78.7	100.0
between high and middle	14.2	85.8	100.0
middle	7.7	92.3	100.0
basic	4.7	95.3	100.0
lower than basic	1.3	98.7	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	10.0	90.0	100.0
regional center	8.4	91.6	100.0
town	9.4	90.6	100.0
village	8.0	92.0	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	9.6	90.4	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	100.0	100.0
Turkish	9.3	90.7	100.0
Gypsy	0	100.0	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	100.0	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives in:*
without any privation	14.0	86.0	100.0
with some privation	11.0	89.0	100.0
with a big privation	5.7	94.3	100.0
in poverty	6.1	93.9	100.0

Do you know, whether foods derived from GM plants are being sold in our country?

	yes	no	total
*sex*
male	10.3	89.7	100.0
female	12.3	87.7	100.0
*age*
up to 29	14.4	85.6	100.0
between 30 - 39	13.0	87.0	100.0
between 40 - 49	15.2	84.8	100.0
between 50 - 59	9.9	90.1	100.0
over 60	6.2	93.8	100.0
*education*
high	24.1	75.9	100.0
between high and middle	20.0	80.0	100.0
middle	11.8	88.2	100.0
basic	3.8	96.2	100.0
lower than basic	1.3	98.7	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	12.1	87.9	100.0
regional center	11.9	88.1	100.0
town	12.4	87.6	100.0
village	9.6	90.4	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	12.7	87.3	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	100.0	100.0
Turkish	6.4	93.6	100.0
Gypsy	1.7	98.3	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	100.0	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	19.1	80.9	100.0
with some privation	14.7	85.3	100.0
with a big privation	8.0	92.0	100.0
in poverty	4.2	95,8	100.0

Do you know, whether foods derived from GM animals are being sold in our country?

	yes	no	total
*sex*
male	9.8	90.2	100.0
female	12.3	87.7	100.0
*age*
up to 29	13.4	86.6	100.0
between 30 - 39	12.5	87.5	100.0
between 40 - 49	15.2	84.8	100.0
between 50 - 59	10.4	89.6	100.0
over 60	6.2	93.8	100.0
*education*
high	21.8	78.2	100.0
between high and middle	21.6	78.4	100.0
middle	11.5	88.5	100.0
basic	3.8	96.2	100.0
lower than basic	2.8	97.2	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	10.9	89.1	100.0
regional center	11.1	88.9	100.0
town	12.2	87.8	100.0
village	10.2	89.8	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	12.3	87.7	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	100.0	100.0
Turkish	8.2	91.8	100.0
Gypsy	1.7	98.3	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	100.0	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	18.1	81.9	100.0
with some privation	14.3	85.7	100.0
with a big privation	7.9	92.1	100.0
in poverty	4.2	95.8	100.0

Have you ever consumed foods, whose ingredients are derived from GMOs?

yes no I don’t know total

	yes	no	I don't know	total
*sex*
male	2.9	48.4	48.7	100.0
female	4.2	53.6	42.3	100.0
*age*
up to 29	4.1	49.4	46.6	100.0
between 30 - 39	3.8	49.3	46.9	100.0
between 40 - 49	4.3	52.1	43.6	100.0
between 50 - 59	2.4	58.0	39.6	100.0
over 60	3.2	48.8	48.0	100.0
*education*
high	6.4	41.1	52.4	100.0
between high and middle	5.6	54.0	40.4	100.0
middle	4.4	50.9	45.8	100.0
basic	2.7	58.1	39.1	100.0
lower than basic	0	50.0	50.0	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	5.3	49.0	45.7	100.0
regional center	3.2	54.9	41.8	100.0
town	4.2	43.7	52.1	100.0
village	2.5	55.1	42.4	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	3.9	50.3	45.8	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	33.4	66.6	100.0
Turkish	1.3	55.6	43.1	100.0
Gypsy	1.7	66.4	31.9	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	44.4	55.6	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	3.9	50.5	45.5	100.0
with some privation	5.7	48.2	46.1	100.0
with a big privation	1.6	53.1	45.3	100.0
in poverty	8	58.0	42.2	100.0

Which are the countries, where people eat GM food mostly?

	with a high living standard	with a low living standard	I can't say	total
*sex*
male	36.0	9.9	54.1	100.0
female	29.7	11.8	58.4	100.0
*age*
up to 29	38.9	11.0	50.1	100.0
between 30 - 39	37.5	12.6	50.0	100.0
between 40 - 49	37.7	15.0	47.5	100.0
between 50 - 59	33.5	9.2	57.4	100.0
over 60	24.1	8.2	70.4	100.0
*education*
high	41.3	18.3	40.4	100.0
between high and middle	36.9	9.9	53.2	100.0
middle	39.5	10.3	50.2	100.0
basic	20.3	9.8	70.0	100.0
lower than basic	7.2	5.6	87.2	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	27.9	19.0	53.1	100.0
regional center	37.2	12.2	50.5	100.0
town	36.8	10.1	53.1	100.0
village	27.7	6.7	65.6	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	35.6	11.0	53.4	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	0	100.0	100.0
Turkish	17.4	10.5	72.2	100.0
Gypsy	18.2	13.4	68.3	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	0	100.0	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	41.5	14.2	44.3	100.0
with some privation	38.9	11.7	49.4	100.0
with a big privation	26.0	10.1	63.9	100.0
in poverty	24.4	8.7	68.0	100.0

o you approve production of foods derived form plant GMOs in our country?

yes no no opinion total

*sex*
male	15.6	38.0	46.4	100.0
female	16.6	33.2	50.1	100.0
*age*
up to 29	18.6	34.9	46.6	100.0
between 30 - 39	18.8	37.2	44.0	100.0
between 40 - 49	21.3	35.5	43.3	100.0
between 50 - 59	12.5	38.7	48.7	100.0
over 60	11.5	33.2	55.4	100.0
*education*
high	22.2	39.8	38.o	100.0
between high and middle	17.7	41.7	40.6	100.0
middle	18.9	38.4	42.8	100.0
basic	7.6	31.5	60.9	100.0
lower than basic	12.1	18.3	69.6	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	13.4	34.5	52.1	100.0
regional center	19.8	33.0	47.2	100.0
town	14.1	43.9	42.0	100.0
village	16.1	30.9	52.9	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	16.9	37.4	45.7	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	5.5	0	94.5	100.0
Turkish	16.7	22.6	60.7	100.0
Gypsy	8.5	28.4	63.1	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	82.2	17.8	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	14.1	37.9	50.0	100.0
with some privation	20.2	38.2	41.7	100.0
with a big privation	12.0	34.5	53.5	100.0
in poverty	12.7	28.2	59.1	100.0

Do you approve production of foods derived from animal GMOs?

	yes	no	no opinion	total
*sex*
male	13.3	38.8	47.7	100.0
female	14.1	33.2	52.7	100.0
*age*
up to 29	16.4	33.6	50.0	100.0
between 30 - 39	16.1	44.8	39.1	100.0
between 40 - 49	16.1	41.8	42.1	100.0
between 50 - 59	11.2	34.9	53.9	100.0
over 60	10.0	29.1	60.9	100.0
*education*
high	19.4	43.3	37.2	100.0
between high and middle	12.9	50.0	37.1	100.0
middle	15.9	39.0	45.1	100.0
basic	7.4	29.3	63.3	100.0
lower than basic	9.2	11.9	78.9	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	11.7	41.9	46.4	100.0
regional center	15.9	34.4	49.7	100.0
town	14.7	39.5	45.8	100.0
village	11.8	31.3	56.9	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	14.1	38.0	47.9	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	5.5	94.5	100.0
Turkish	15.3	30.2	54.5	100.0
Gypsy	11.8	16.2	72.1	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	66.1	33.9	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	11.9	41.1	47.0	100.0
with some privation	17.8	39.7	41.5	100.0
with a big privation	8.9	33.4	57.7	100.0
in poverty	12.5	26.2	62.3	100.0

Do you approve import of foods derived from plant GMOs?

	yes	no	no opinion	total
*sex*
male	13.3	38.8	47.9	100.0
female	14.1	33.2	52.7	100.0
*age*
up to 29	16.4	33.6	50.0	100.0
between 30 - 39	16.1	44.8	39.1	100.0
between 40 - 49	16.1	41.8	42.1	100.0
between 50 - 59	11.2	34.9	53.9	100.0
over 60	10.0	29.1	60.9	100.0
*education*
high	19.5	43.3	37.2	100.0
between high and middle	12.9	50.0	37.1	100.0
middle	15.9	39.0	45.1	100.0
basic	7.4	29.3	63.3	100.0
lower than basic	9.2	11.9	78.9	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	11.7	41.9	46.4	100.0
regional center	15.9	34.4	49.7	100.0
town	14.7	39.5	45.8	100.0
village	11.8	31.3	56.9	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	14.1	38.0	47.4	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	5.5	94..5	100.0
Turkish	15.3	30.2	54.5	100.0
Gypsy	11.8	16.2	73.1	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	66.1	33.9	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	11.9	41.1	47.0	100.0
with some privation	17.8	39.7	42.5	100.0
with a big privation	8.9	33.4	57.7	100.0
in poverty	12.5	25.2	62.3	100.0

Do you approve import of foods derived from animal GMOs?

	yes	no	no opinion	total
*sex*
male	12.3	39.6	48.1	100.0
female	12.2	34.1	53.7	100.0
*age*
up to 29	15.1	35.7	49.2	100.0
between 30 - 39	14.5	44.9	40.5	100.0
between 40 - 49	14.4	40.5	45.0	100.0
between 50 - 59	10.7	35.9	53.4	100.0
over 60	8.0	30.9	61.2	100.0
*education*
high	16.1	44.6	39.2	100.0
between high and middle	10.3	52.6	37.1	100.0
middle	14.9	39.4	45.6	100.0
basic	7.1	29.3	63.6	100.0
lower than basic	4.9	16.1	78.9	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	7.6	44.2	48.2	100.0
regional center	14.7	34.3	51.0	100.0
town	14.2	40.4	45.4	100.0
village	10.6	32.4	57.1	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	12.5	39.1	48.4	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	5.5	94.5	100.0
Turkish	13.5	32.0	54.5	100.0
Gypsy	11.8	12.8	75.4	100.0
of an other ethnos	0	66.1	33.9	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	11.9	41.1	47.0	100.0
with some privation	15.5	41.3	43.3	100.0
with a big privation	8.1	34.4	57.5	100.0
in poverty	11.8	23.1	65.0	100.0

Would you consume foods derived from GMOs and at what circumstances would you do it?

	I would never eat such foods	If I'm sure they are safe	If they don't harm the environment	If they are cheaper	I can't say	total
*sex*
male	24.2	46.8	1.9	10.2		100.0
female	21.9	46.0	1.4	10.4		100.0
*age*
up to 29	19.4	55.2	2.2	7.7	15.5	100.0
between 30 - 39	24.7	53.2	1.1	5.8	15.3	100.0
between 40 - 49	27.2	43.6	2.7	13.2	13.3	100.0
between 50 - 59	16.9	52.5	1.0	11.1	18.5	100.0
over 60	25.7	33.5	1.2	12.8	26.8	100.0
*education*
high	24.8	60.1	3.9	4.7	6.5	100.0
between high and middle	27.7	52.6	3.7	8.5	7.5	100.0
middle	22.7	54.8	1.0	7.0	14.6	100.0
basic	25.9	29.0	0.8	18.4	25.9	100.0
lower than basic	11.9	15.2	2.3	17.7	52.8	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	23.0	55.1	1.8	5.2	14.9	100.0
regional center	22,1	51.4	1.5	10.3	14.7	100.0
town	19.3	46.1	1.6	12.6	20.4	100.0
village	27.0	38.4	1.7	10.8	22.2	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	23.0	49.4	1.9	8.9	15.9	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	0	39.7	0	4.5	55.8	100.0
Turkish	18.4	29.6	0	21.1	30.8	100.0
Gypsy	20.7	21.9	0	22.8	34.6	100.0
of an other ethnos	48.2	20.4	0	0	31.4	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	19.8	63.2	1.9	2.7	12.6	100.0
with some privation	22.7	54.4	2.0	7.5	13.5	100.0
with a big privation	23.6	39.6	0.9	11.9	24.0	100.0
in poverty	23.5	25.9	2.2	21.4	26.9	100.0

Do you need additional information, in case you decide to consume foods derived from GMOs?

	yes	no	total
*sex*
male	72.4	27.6	100.0
female	72.5	27.5	100.0
*age*
up to 29	72.3	27.7	100.0
between 30 - 39	81.0	19.0	100.0
between 40 - 49	77.5	22.5	100.0
between 50 - 59	78.3	21.7	100.0
over 60	60.8	39.2	100.0
*education*
high	77.7	22.3	100.0
between high and middle	84.4	15.6	100.0
middle	76.5	23.5	100.0
basic	64.3	35.7	100.0
lower than basic	48.6	51.4	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	72.3	27.7	100.0
regional center	75.4	24.6	100.0
town	73.1	26.9	100.0
village	69.5	30.5	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	73.1	26.9	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	57.7	42.3	100.0
Turkish	80.1	19.9	100.0
Gypsy	59.6	40.4	100.0
of an other ethnos	44.4	55.6	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	81.3	18.7	100.0
with some privation	76.6	23.4	100.0
with a big privation	70.6	29.4	100.0
in poverty	56.0	44.0	100.0

Would you approve a proposal for moratorium over production of foods derived from GMOs until harmonization of Bulgarian legislative standards with those in EU?

	yes	no	no opinion	total
*sex*
male	52.2	7.4	40.4	100.0
female	54.4	4.9	40.7	100.0
*age*
up to 29	55.7	9.3	35.1	100.0
between 30 - 39	57.5	9.2	33.3	100.0
between 40 - 49	64.1	7.6	28.3	100.0
between 50 - 59	58.1	3.9	38.1	100.0
over 60	39.3	2.0	58.7	100.0
*education*
high	55.2	13.9	30.9	100.0
between high and middle	67.0	5.8	27.1	100.0
middle	60.5	7.1	32.4	100.0
basic	45.6	1.5	52.8	100.0
lower than basic	15.2	0	84.8	100.0
*residence*
Sofia	62.2	4.8	33.0	100.0
regional center	55.5	9.9	34.6	100.0
town	52.1	7.5	40.4	100.0
village	48.6	2.3	49.2	100.0
you are :
Bulgarian	56.7	6.3	37.0	100.0
Bulgarian - Muslim	14.0	0	86.0	100.0
Turkish	32.5	10.8	56.7	100.0
Gypsy	38.4	0	61.6	100.0
of an other ethnos	44.4	0	55.6	100.0
*How would you characterize yourself?* *As a person who lives :*
without any privation	54.9	10.4	34.7	100.0
with some privation	59.9	7.0	33.1	100.0
with a big privation	46.7	5.2	48.2	100.0
in poverty	35.3	3.3	51.5	100.0

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Bibloigraphy

Public Acceptance of the Production, Dissemination and Use of Genetically Modified Organisms and Derived from them Foods in Bulgaria

Contents

The Team

Comments of data

Graphic atachments