Frbiz.com Reported Biosecurity Bill To Prohibit Gmo Food Production In Turkey

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The Ministry of Agriculture submitted a biosecurity bill to Parliament on Wednesday

in a bid to set rules and regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which have caused nationwide controversy over the past several months.

The bill prohibits the production of foods containing GMOs in Turkey and makes it mandatory to secure permission from the ministry to transport these products through Turkey. Individuals who produce genetically modified plants or animals or release them into the environment will be subject to a prison term of between five and 10 years or the imposition of a fine ranging between TL 1,500 and TL 2,500, according to the bill. If the production of GMO-containing products causes damage to humans, animals, plants or the environment, the prison sentence will be increased to at least seven years or a fine of no less than TL 2,000. In the event that these cases involve anti-smuggling laws, the prescribed penalties will double, the bill states.

A biosecurity commission will be set up consisting of nine members appointed by the ministries of agriculture, environment and forestry, health and industry and trade and the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat. Of the members, one must be selected from a university and one from a trade body, the bill states. The head of the commission will be determined by the agriculture minister. According to the biosecurity bill, individuals who have secured the permission required to conduct operations related to products containing GMOs will still be responsible for any possible damage caused to the health of humans, animals or plants or to the environment.

If products containing GMOs are used for purposes other than the ones determined by the commission, in the case of damage resulting of their import and distribution around the country, the person or persons will face a prison term of no less than five years or a fine of TL 1,500. Those who use or force others to use products containing GMOs against commission rules will be sentenced to a prison term of between two and four years or a fine of between TL 500 and TL 1,000, and in the event of resultant damage, these penalties will be raised to no less than three years or a minimum fine of TL 750. False statements in applications to the ministry will result in a prison sentence of between two and four years. If some of these acts are carried out by corporate bodies, that body will face an administrative fine ranging from TL 100,000 to TL 200,000 according to the seriousness of the act.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture filed an appeal on Wednesday in response to a decision of the common council of the 10th and 13th chambers of the Council of State to stay the execution of parts of a regulation addressing the control of food and feed products containing GMOs that went into effect on Oct. 26.

Minister of Agriculture Mehmet Mehdi Eker, responding to journalists questions ahead of the opening of the fourth annual Agriculture, Animal Breeding, Seed Growing, Arboriculture and Dairy Industry Fair yesterday in ?stanbul, said the biosecurity commission will be an independent body and will regulate the import of products containing GMOs.

by: Frbiz

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