Azerbaijan offers more control over GMO import in country

Azerbaijan has developed the amendments to the seven laws, and the Administrative Code to prevent the spread of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country.

The report on the state of GMOs in Azerbaijan was developed by NGO "Center for local economy support" with funding from the OSCE Office in Baku.

According to the report, despite the fact that Azerbaijan has officially banned the import of GMOs (there are exceptions, if they are used for genetic engineering), simultaneously the country ratified the requirements of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - a legally binding international agreement, which is intended to control transboundary movements of GMOs, created with use of modern biotechnology.

Within the project the NGO also made recommendations to improve the situation with the use of GMOs in the country and increase the potential of genetic engineering, the use of the experience of other countries participating in the Cartagena Protocol, strengthen research capacity in this area, form a system to control imports of GMOs into the country by the Ministries of Agriculture and of Economic development, the formation of Agriculture Ministry’s of GMO using plant growing and livestock regulation system, the formation of the system of regulation of industrial production and processing with the use of GMOs.

In line with the report, there were also presented the amendments to the laws on the protection of the environment, an ecological agriculture, the seed, the food of children and adolescents, the veterinary of food products, the achievements of breeding. The amendments were also proposed to the Administrative Violations Code of Azerbaijan.