Russia to Stop Importing GMO Foods, Has ‘Enough Space’ to Grow Organic
With revolution a popular theme in Russia these days, it may not come as a surprise that the country has taken the ideology to its plates with a recent announcement that it plans to cease importing GMO foods and focus on growing organic food instead.
That’s the news according to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who spoke at a congress of deputies from the country’s rural settlements over the weekend.
According to RT, the Prime Minister said, “If the Americans like to eat GMO products, let them eat it then. We don’t need to do that; we have enough space and opportunities to produce organic food.”
The news comes just weeks after members of the Russian parliament asked the government to impose a temporary ban on genetically modified foods due to the unknown health risks. RT reports that agriculture minister Nikolay Fyodorov also stated that “Russia should remain free of genetically modified products” and the prime minister has reportedly ordered a “widespread monitoring of the agricultural sector.”
Russia’s State Duma Agricultural Committee has already supported a ban on registering and selling or distributing genetically modified organisms, reports RT. “It was suggested that until specialists develop a working system of control over the effects of GMOs on humans and the natural environment, the government should impose a moratorium on the breeding and growth of genetically modified plants, animals, and microorganisms.”
Under current regulations, Russia does not limit the trade or production of GMO foods. Anything that does contain more than 0.9 percent of genetically modified material though, must be labeled as containing GMOs.
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Image: akk_rus
