Azerbaijan can jail any person – importers or salespersons – engaged in sale of genetically modified products in the country. The naturally rich country prohibits the import and trade of genetically modified plants, as well as use in food of genetically modified elements.
Parliament discussed new paragraphs to be added to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Violations at the meeting of the Committee on Agrarian Policy last week.
Committee Chairman, Eldar Ibrahimov discussed the projects and spoke about the paragraphs which will be added to the Criminal Code in regards to handling trafficking of genetically modified plants and food.
After the discussion, the draft was adopted and recommended to the plenary session.
The Azerbaijani legislation bans the import and distribution of genetically modified plants and their inclusion in the state register.
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Despite these actions experts believe that modified products are widely spread in Azerbaijan.
Around 95 percent of tomatoes, 95 percent of watermelons and 40 percent of potatoes are genetically modified in Azerbaijan. About 98 percent of the soya beans, which are widely used in food and cosmetic industries are believed to contain GMOs as well, according to the head of the Azerbaijani Free Consumers Union, Eyyub Huseynov.
However, there has been no official confirmation. Samples taken from a number of plants across Azerbaijan have showed no genetic changes.
Read full, original article: Azerbaijan may imprison GMO distributors
