Armenian parliament bans imports and use of GMOs
YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. A set of amendments to the law on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and related laws, approved by the parliament of Armenia today in the second and final reading, ban import and use of GMOs in the country. The amendments were endorsed by 67 lawmakers; 33 MPs abstained.
Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan specified that the amendments ban imports, use, storage, transportation and other activities related to GMOs.
He added however, that there is an exception; GMOs can be used in isolated systems of research centers for experimental and demonstration purposes.
According to the minister, the core of this law is to protect the environment. "The law prohibits the imports of genetically modified seeds or means of their reproduction," he said.
During the second reading, Deputy Minister of Economy Ani Ispiryan noted that Armenia is home to many endemic plants, and the uncontrolled import and use of seeds and planting material containing GMOs would cause serious damage to biodiversity, threatening the preservation of local plant species. -0-
