Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Economic Loss Caused by Genetically Modified Organisms pp 233–257Cite as

Economic Loss Caused by GMOs in Greece

  • Chapter

  • 577 Accesses

Part of the book series: Tort and Insurance Law ((TIL,volume 24))

Abstract

Before answering the questions set out in the final questionnaire, we find it useful to make a small presentation of the legal frame regarding the protection of the environment in Greece. In 1986 the Parliament enacted the law-frame 1650/1986 “for the protection of the environment”. According to the said law, any act or omission leading to the “pollution” or “contamination” or “degradation” of the environment and resulting in adverse secondary effects inasmuch to environmental “goods” as to human beings constitutes an offence to the environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. I. Karakostas, Environmental Law (in Greek, 2nd ed. 2006) 518–519.

    Google Scholar 

  2. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 515–518.

    Google Scholar 

  3. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 589–592.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Areios Pagos (Greek Supreme Court, AP) (in full bench) 7/1992 NoV (Nomiko Vima) 41 (1993) 63; AP1588/1999 PerDik (Perivallon kai Dikaio) 1/2000, 62 followed by a note of A. Kalavros; 286/1987, Ell Dni (Elliniki Dikaiosini) 29, 1365; Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki 10623/2003, Arm (Armenopoulos) NH′, 423; Court of First Instance of Kalamata 109/2003 PerDik 2/2004, 217; Court of First Instance of Volos 2785/2003, PerDik 3/2003, 443; Court of First Instance of Mesologgi 77/2000, PerDik 4/2001, 575, followed by a note of E. Dacoronia. Court of First Instance of Ioannina 471/1996, PerDik 1/1997, 84, followed by a note of E. Dacoronia; Court of First Instance of Serres 12/1994, NoV 42 (1994) 1032; Court of First Instance of Chalkida 336/1992, Ell Dni 33, 1513; Court of First Instance of Korinthos 301/1992 (not published); Court of First Instance of Nafplio 163/1991, NoV 39 (1991) 786; Court of First Instance of Volos 1097/229/1989, NoV 38 (1990) 308; Court of First Instance of Naxos 58/1989 (not published); Court of First Instance of Thiva 80/1985, NoV 33 (1985) 1057; Athens Court of First Instance 702/1981, NoV 29 (1981) 1301; Court of First Instance of Edessa 93/1981, Ell Dni 22, 366; Court of First Instance of Kalamata 5/1974, Dni 1975, 125; Justice of the Peace of Tinos 19/1992, Arch N (Archeio Nomologias) 43, 640 and 30/1991 (not published); Justice of the Peace of Chalkida 25/1986, 127/1986 and 238/1986, Ell Dni 28, 931, 1130 and 1472 respectively; Justice of the Peace of Ypati 14/1980, Ell Dni 21, 781.

    Google Scholar 

  5. For the notion of positive damage and loss of profit in Greek law see (in English) M. Stathopoulos, Contract Law in Hellas (1995) no. 305.

    Google Scholar 

  6. For an analysis of the said law see I. Karakostas, The producer’s liability for defective products (1995); I. Karakostas/D. Tzouganatos, Consumer protection (1. 2251/1994) (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Even before its amendment, 1. 2251/1994 was interpreted in such a way as to also embrace environmental damage (see I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 544 ff.).

    Google Scholar 

  8. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 549.

    Google Scholar 

  9. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 550.

    Google Scholar 

  10. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 554, 555.

    Google Scholar 

  11. About the Cartagena Protocol see G. Balias, The Cartagena Protocol on the Prevention of Biotechnological Risks. A Change of Example in the International Law of Environment, Nomos kai Physsi (= Law and Nature) 2000, 27 ff.; id., The Precautionary Principle in International, EU and National Law (2005) 188 ff. For the application of the precautionary principle in Greek Public Law in general see Sp. Flogaitis/Chr. Pétrou, Les avancés du principe de précaution en droit public grec, RHDI (Revue Hellénique de Droit International) 59 (2006) 449–470.

    Google Scholar 

  12. G. Balias, Nomos kai Physsi 2000, 47.

    Google Scholar 

  13. M.-A. Hermitte/ Ch. Noiville, La dissémination volontaire d’organismes génétiquement modifiés dans l’environnement. Une première application du principe de prudence, Révue Juridique de l’Environnement 3-1993, 392; G. Balias, Nomos kai Physsi 2000, 48. Ev. Raftopoulos, The polluter pays principle and agriculture in Greece (in English), RHDI 59 (2006) 284.

    Google Scholar 

  14. G. Balias, supra (fn. 13).

    Google Scholar 

  15. G. Balias, Nomos kai Physsi 2000, 48, 49, who has adopted the arguments of G. Martin, La necessité d’un “bricolage juridique” en matière de responsabilité, in: V. Le Roy (ed.), Les dossiers de l’environnement de l’INRA, Paris 1996, 33, 34.

    Google Scholar 

  16. See T. Kourakis/ D. Kouretas/ L. Louloudis/ A. Manitakis/ G. Balias in an article published in the daily newspaper “Kathimerini ”on the 30. 1. 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  17. One member Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki 13776/2002, PerDik 2002, 360 (followed by a note of M. Kotzaivazoglou); 16242/2003 Arm 2005, 1202; 9069/2005 published at the data basis NOMOS; 10165/2005 (not published); 10252/2005 (not published); 17599/2005 (not published); multimember Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki 26223/2005, PerDik 4/2005, 614 (followed by a note of Ap. Sinis); one member Court of First Instance of Larissa 3867/2005, Dikografia (= Brief) 2005, 557. The decisions of the one member Court of First Instance of Patras 1558/1998 PerDik 2/2001, 247; 3421/2000, PerDik 1/2001, 88, of the one member Court of First Instance of Herakleion 802/2003, NoV 2003, 1458 and the decision of the Court of Appeal of Patras 182/2001, PerDik 2/2001, 249 (followed by a note of T. Nikolopoulos) were the first decisions, not explicitly mentioning the precautionary principle, but actually implying it, as they founded their judgment on the probability of risks to human health from electromagnetic radiation.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Arm 2005, 467.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Court of Appeal of Patras 169/2002, NoV 51, 66 followed by a note of T. Nikolopoulos; one member Court of First Instance of Athens 14316/1995, PerDik 2/1997, 230; one member Court of First Instance of Patras 2260/1998, PerDik 2/2001, 248; one member Court of First Instance of Trikala 420/1998, PerDik 1999, 577.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Government Gazette (FEK) Issue B′ 831/2002.

    Google Scholar 

  21. FEK Issue B′ 1334/2005.

    Google Scholar 

  22. For the implementation and application of the GMOs Community rules in the Greek legal order see Ath. Takis, The legal status of GMOs in the European Union and elements of the adaptation of the Greek law, Arm 60 (2006) 1552–1556.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Also art. 12 of the Joint Ministerial Decision 95267/1893/1995, which implemented Council Directive 90/219/EC as amended by Council Directive 94/51/EC (FEK Issue B′ 1030/1995), subsequently replaced and abolished by art. 21 of the Joint Ministerial Decision H.Π.: 11642/1943/2002, contained a similar provision. The Joint Ministerial Decision 278787/2005 on Necessary Complementary Measures for the Implementation of Regulations 1829/2003/ EC and 1830/2003/EC of the European Parliament and the European Council (FEK Issue B′ 998/2005), however, includes only penal and administrative sanctions.

    Google Scholar 

  24. M. Stathopoulos (supra fn. 6) no. 311.

    Google Scholar 

  25. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 522–523; P. Filios, Law of Obligations, General Part (2nd ed. 1996) § 93.

    Google Scholar 

  26. M. Stathopoulos (supra fn. 6) no. 312.

    Google Scholar 

  27. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 523; P. Filios (supra fn. 26).

    Google Scholar 

  28. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 523–525.

    Google Scholar 

  29. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 524.

    Google Scholar 

  30. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 529–530.

    Google Scholar 

  31. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 521.

    Google Scholar 

  32. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 522.

    Google Scholar 

  33. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 521.

    Google Scholar 

  34. M. Stathopoulos (supra fn. 6) no. 39.

    Google Scholar 

  35. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 482 with references to French and German literature.

    Google Scholar 

  36. In cases of the so-called “industrial illnesses” the proof of the “industrial provenance” of the illnesses is a “minimum causality” necessary for the establishment of a claim for damages. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 483.

    Google Scholar 

  37. See relatively P. Gottwald, Schadenszurechnung und Schadensschätzung (1979) 197 ff.; P. Kargados, Zur Beweislast bei der Haftung für Umweltschäden, in: Festschrift für Günther Baumgärtel (1990) 191 ff.; Th. Lytras, Zivilrechtliche Haftung für Umweltschäden (1995) 360 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  38. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 484, 485.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Ap. Georgiades, in: Ap. Georgiades/ M. Stathopoulos (eds.), Civil Code (1982) art. 926 no. 5; I. Deliyannis/P. Kornilakis, Law of Obligations-Special Part (1992) vol. III, 218.

    Google Scholar 

  40. According to the prevailing view in theory (Ap. Georgiades, art. 926 no. 6; I. Deliyannis/P. Kornilakis, supra fn. 43) the term “collective act” in art. 926 GCC is not restricted to intentional complicity but it includes the so-called “negligent complicity” as well. Contra P. Filios, Law of Obligations — Special Part (4th ed. 1998) vol. II/2, 92, who adheres to the doctrine of the penal law, which requires intention.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ap. Georgiades, art. 926 no. 7; I. Deliyannis/P. Kornilakis (supra fn. 43) 218–219.

    Google Scholar 

  42. See respectively Ap. Georgiades, art. 926 no. 8; I. Deliyannis/P. Kornilakis (supra fn. 43) 219.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Ap. Georgiades M. Stathopoulos (eds.), Civil Code (1982) art. 926 no. 5 (supra fn. 43) art. 926 no. 9. E.g. A1’s factory emits harmless chemical waste and so does A2’s factory. However, when these harmless chemical wastes are fused, they produce — by a chemical reaction — a poisonous substance which contaminates the river and results in fish being killed. A1 and A2 are held jointly and severally liable according to art. 926 GCC, because the damage was caused by their “collective act” (wide interpretation of the term). However, it has been maintained that these cases fall under art. 926 sent. 1 subpar. b concerning liability in parallel (see respectively M. Karasis, Joint and several debt, 1990, 279 fn. 87a and 282; P. Filios (supra fn. 44, 93). It must be noted, however, that the discord between the scholars is strictly theoretical, because regardless of where the cases of notwendig koinzidierende Kausalität are placed — i.e. either in art. 926 sent. 1 subpar. a GCC concerning a collective act or in art. 926 sent. 1 subpar. b GCC concerning liability in parallel — the actors are in any case held jointly and severally liable.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Ap. Georgiades M. Stathopoulos (eds.), Civil Code (1982) (supra fn. 43) art. 926 no. 12; I. Deliyannis/P. Kornilakis (supra fn. 43) 220.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Ap. Georgiades M. Stathopoulos (eds.), Civil Code (1982) (supra fn. 43) art. 926, no. 16.

    Google Scholar 

  46. See I. Karakostas M. Stathopoulos (eds.), Civil Code (1982) art. no. 5 (supra fn. 1) 295.

    Google Scholar 

  47. For an analysis (in English) of the legal basis of the producer’s liability in Greece see E. Dacoronia, Mass torts: a Greek approach, RHDI 47, 89–91, with further references to the Greek literature.

    Google Scholar 

  48. For details relative to this duty of the owner or possessor of a source of risk to take all measures of care and providence, a product of the German jurisprudence (called in German Verkehrssicherungspflichten), see in the Greek literature I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 471 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Known in German as Gefahrenbereich, it is a product of the German theory and jurisprudence specially developed in the field of the producer’s liability and introduced lately in the tort liability for emissions. For references to the German literature see I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 477 fn. 34.

    Google Scholar 

  50. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 475–476.

    Google Scholar 

  51. It must be noted here however that we have suggested (E. Dacoronia, Emissions and damage to the environment from the operation of an enterprise under licence from the competent authority [relation of arts. 1003, 914 of the GCC], PerDik 1997/1, 22, 23) that in such a case, the damage must be covered for reasons of equity, by analogy of other provisions of the GCC (e.g. arts. 387, 675 § 2, 918 etc.), which give such a possibility (i.e. which recognise a claim for reasonable damages to the discretion of the Court, if this is dictated by good faith and equity, even if the activities that caused the damage are legal).

    Google Scholar 

  52. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 314, 412.

    Google Scholar 

  53. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 412–413.

    Google Scholar 

  54. I. Karakostas/ I. Vassilopoulos, Environmental Law in Greece (in English, 1999) 136.

    Google Scholar 

  55. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 488 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  56. M. Stathopoulos (supra fn. 6) no. 305.

    Google Scholar 

  57. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 491; M. Stathopoulos (supra fn. 6) no. 301.

    Google Scholar 

  58. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 491–492; M. Stathopoulos, supra.

    Google Scholar 

  59. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 492.

    Google Scholar 

  60. M. Stathopoulos (supra fn. 6) no. 304.

    Google Scholar 

  61. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 493.

    Google Scholar 

  62. FEK Issue A’ 87/1997.

    Google Scholar 

  63. I. Rokas, Private Insurance (1998) 170.

    Google Scholar 

  64. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 501–502.

    Google Scholar 

  65. See I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 506.

    Google Scholar 

  66. FEK Issue B’ 176/2001.

    Google Scholar 

  67. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 726.

    Google Scholar 

  68. I. Karakostas, supra.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Chr. Jünger, Der Kampf ums Forum, Rabels Zeitschrift für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht (RabelsZ) 1982, 714 ff.; I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 728.

    Google Scholar 

  70. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 730.

    Google Scholar 

  71. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 734. See also (in English) Ph. Kozyris, Ch. 16 I B 2, in: K Kerameus/ Ph. Kozyris (eds.), Introduction to Greek Law (2nd ed. 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  72. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 739.

    Google Scholar 

  73. I. Karakostas (supra fn. 1) 740.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Eugenia Dacoronia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Bernhard A. Koch

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag/Wien

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dacoronia, E. (2008). Economic Loss Caused by GMOs in Greece. In: Koch, B.A. (eds) Economic Loss Caused by Genetically Modified Organisms. Tort and Insurance Law, vol 24. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-77988-0_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-77988-0_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-77987-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-77988-0

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation