Anti-GM sentiment grows in CIS

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

- Last updated on GMT

Anti-GM sentiment grows in CIS

Related tags Russia Beef Pork Poultry

Opposition to the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in animal feed is growing in the CIS countries of Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Belarus.

Following a recent study conducted by a team of scientists from Italy and France, which claimed the consumption of GMO could cause cancer, policy-makers in the CIS have proposed a complete ban on the use of GMO products in food for humans and animal feed.

Russia has already imposed a ban on the import of GM maize NK603, and a turnover of this type of maize in the country. Officials have also said that meat importers that are found to be using GM feed should immediately lose their right to supply Russia.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture has promised to organise a review of all batches of grain and animal feed to determine if they contain GMO materials, while a ban on GMO feed is expected to be passed by the Kyrgyzstan parliament shortly.

“The problem of GMO is becoming as serious for the survival of humanity as global warming. We will ban GMO to prevent Ukrainians from transforming into mutants,”​ said the leader of Ukraine’s Zelenie political party Alexander Prognimak.

The import and study of GMO products are already prohibited by law in Azerbaijan, where a scandal recently erupted over rumours that local poultry producer Seba used GM corn from Montsanto in poultry feed. The producer denied these rumours.

Research

The Russian authorities recently announced that their scientists are carrying out their own research to categorically prove harmful, or confirm the safety of, the use of genetically modified products in animal feed. The experiments, which will be shown online, will show rats fed on GMO soy, corn and potatoes.

“We need transparency, not a secret experiment. Secrecy could discredit the final results. We will use web cameras so everybody can watch the animals online. Several scientists who support GMO have also confirmed their willingness to participate in the experiment. As a result, there will be no doubt about the integrity of our study,”​ said the director of the National Association for Genetic Security of Russia (NAGS) Elena Sharoykina.

Scientists said the experiments, expected to cost around $1m and start in March 2013, could also be carried out on pigs.

Related topics Meat

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