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Violators of laws on GMOs to face fines in Azerbaijan

26 December 2012 14:13 (UTC+04:00)
Violators of laws on GMOs to face fines in Azerbaijan

By Nigar Orujova

An Azerbaijani parliamentary panel on Tuesday discussed legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMO), an issue that has raised concerns in many countries of the world. The changes envision hefty fines for those violating relevant laws.

The draft amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences, tabled at the Milli Majlis committee for agricultural policy, was signed by the head of state, Committee chairman Eldar Ibrahimov told the local press.

GMO is the result of a genetic engineering process that involves the extraction or artificially forcing of genes from the DNA of one species into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The alien genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals and even humans.

It was noted that an article covering the violation of the legislation on conservation and efficient use of genetic resources of cultivated plants was added to the Code.

According to the amendments, individuals violating the legislation will be fined 200-300 manats ($255-382), while officials - 500-600 manats ($637-$765), and legal entities 1,500-2,000 manats ($1,913-$2,551).

Except in case of scientific studies, tests and exhibitions, it is proposed to impose fines over import and state registration of genetically modified crops in the amount of 3,000 manats ($3,826) for individuals, 10,000 manats ($12,755) for officials and 50,000 manats ($63,775) for legal entities.

The draft amendments are to be discussed at the parliament's plenary session.

Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers approved the rules for determining possible dangers posed by genetically modified plants earlier in December. The rules envision establishment of an advisory board which will determine the areas of research relating to genetically modified organisms found in Azerbaijan. The board will include representatives of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the Ministries of Agriculture, Ecology and Natural Resources, and Health, as well as the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Patents.

The researchers are in charge of studying the impact of land planted with GMOs, crops grown nearby, elements of flora, honey bees and farm animals, wild animals, insects, and their products.

Based on these studies the National Academy of Sciences is to approve the action plan which is to be transferred for execution by the mentioned ministries and the state committee.

Although Azerbaijan has joined a number of world environmental conventions, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000), GMOs are widely spread in the country, says Eyyub Huseynov, head of the Azerbaijani Free Consumers Union. According to Huseynov, around 95 percent of tomatoes, 95 percent of watermelons and 40 percent of potatoes are genetically modified in Azerbaijan. About 98 percent of the beans of soya, which is widely used in food and cosmetic industries, contain GMOs as well.

Genetically modified products (GMP) were created to be used in countries facing the possibility of famine and poor land conditions, but Azerbaijan is not among such countries and senses no need for GMP.

The interest to genetically modified products increased in the late 1970s, while large-scale commercial sales of GMPs started in 1990. At that time GMPs were believed to be an escape from hunger and diseases in vulnerable parts of the world as they are easy to plant, cheaper, more nutritive and contain medicine and vaccines.

A lot has changed since that time, but GMOs are still widely used and sold around the world. According to the 2011 statistics, global plantings of genetically modified crops rose by 8 percent in 2011, taking the total area of biotech crops in the world to 160 million hectares.

The United States has the biggest area of genetically modified crops. It is followed by Brazil and Argentina.

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