Duma security committee drafts bill

The Russian Duma has drafted a bill banning production and sale of genetically modified food. Authorities of Moscow support this legislation - Mayor Yuri Luzhkov called on President Putin and suggested to set up a governmental commission to research the GM issue. Ms. Stebenkova, the head of Moscow Duma’s health care committee and drafter of the bill, stated that everything would be done to ban uncontrolled circulation of GM food in the country and in imports to Russia.

 

Currently, the Russian Academy of Science permits thirteen sorts of genetically modified sources (three sorts of soy, five sorts of corn, two sorts of sugar-beet, two sorts of potato and one of rice). The draft bill bans the production of GM plants used for food, the sale of GM food to children under 16 and at hospitals as well. The army and the navy are also banned from buying GM food. Producers are bound to indicate the amount of genetically modified components on the packaging, no matter how big the share is. At present, products with a GM share less than 0.9 % don’t have to be labelled as GM.

 

Source: kommersant.com