The Verkhovna Rada has passed in the second reading and as a whole the law “On state regulation of genetically engineered activities and state control over the placement of genetically modified organisms and products on the market”.
The corresponding bill №5839 was supported by 276 people’s deputies at the plenary session on Wednesday, a member of the faction “Golos” Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported in Telegram.
According to the explanatory note, the document defines the legal and organizational basis for the state regulation of genetically engineered activities, ensuring environmental, genetic, food and biological security of the state and state control over the placement of genetically modified organisms and products on the market.
It defines the terms “genetically modified organism”, “genetically modified products”, “GM products as a food product”, introduces state registration of GMOs, etc.
Before the law was adopted in the second reading, it was amended to prohibit the cultivation and import of GM corn, as well as the cultivation of genetically modified sugar beets and rapeseed for five years.
The document introduces a comprehensive regulation of the legal and organizational foundations of genetically engineered activities by means of state supervision (control) over the use of genetically modified organisms and the turnover of GM products.
The bill also delimits the powers of state authorities to avoid duplication of functions in the sphere of GMO handling; improves the system of GMO risk assessment with regard to possible impact on human health and the natural environment; introduces European mechanisms for state registration of GMOs; improves requirements for labeling of GM products and introduces rules for their traceability; strengthens state control in the sphere of GMO handling and establishes liability for violation of legislation in this sphere.
