Turkey says "not to allow" GMO import below EU standards

Turkish Agriculture & Rural Affairs Ministry stated on Wednesday that it would "not allow" import of any genetically modified organisms which were not appropriate to EU standards.

The ministry recalled that a regulation on import, processing, export, control and supervision of genetically modified organisms was put into effect on October 26, 2009.

"The regulation caused debates and was not understood clearly in media, non-governmental organizations and science world in Turkey as of the enforcement of the regulation, and thus, several articles of the regulations were changed on November 20, 2009," noted the ministry.

Following legal process, final change on the regulation was made on January 20, 2010, and accordingly, import of genetically modified organisms which were not appropriate to EU standards would "not be allowed", added the ministry.

Genetically modified foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering, using a process of either Cisgenesis or Transgenesis. Critics have objected to GM foods on several grounds, including safety issues, ecological concerns, and economic concerns raised by the fact that these organisms are subject to intellectual property law.

/World Bulletin/