Deputies of Ukraine intend to improve the mechanism for informing consumers about the presence of GMOs in food
Deputies of Ukraine intend to improve the mechanism for informing consumers about the presence or absence of GMOs in food. This is evidenced by the bill "On Amending the Law of Ukraine" On the safety and quality of food (about informing citizens about the presence in food of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)) N6001 dated 25 January 2010, a copy of which is available on the website of the Verkhovna Rada .
The purpose and objective of the bill is the realization of the rights of consumers to information about the products by prohibiting the trafficking in food labeling that does not contain accessible for consumers form perceptions about the presence or absence of GMOs in food products, said in a memorandum to the document.
As the author of the bill A. Shkil, the need to inform consumers about the presence or absence of GMOs in food is enshrined in existing legislation, but the reporting mechanism is not clearly registered.
According to him, legislation that exist today does not contain an express prohibition on distribution of products without causing a mark on the content of GMOs than using unscrupulous manufacturers and importers of food products containing GMOs.
Moreover, notes A. Shkil, adding GMOs in food, producers of these products derive from the effect of restrictions imposed by the Act on the safety and quality of food ", because according to Art. 2, the Act does not apply to tobacco and tobacco products and special requirements for food products, related to the presence of genetically modified organisms or their components.
According to the authors of the bill, it is necessary to set out clearly what foods turnover allowed by law, must necessarily contain the label information on the presence or absence of GMOs in food, as well as products containing GMOs should be covered by the Act on Safety and Quality food.
Thus, according to the amendments, made in paragraph 10 of the Law of Ukraine "On the safety and quality of food, all food products in circulation in Ukraine, might be marked on state language of Ukraine, and kept in accessible form of consumer perceptions about the presence or absence of food products of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which is reflected on the label of a food product says "with GMO" or "without GMO" respectively, whereas the proportion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food product exceeds 0.9% of the total weight of the product in each container.
Recall, from December 30, 2009, the Law # 1778-VI (Bill # 4437), introducing mandatory labeling of products which it contains, and does not contain GMOs (until now has been voluntary).
Recall also, 17 December 2009, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law # 1779-VI (Bill # 3230), later signed by the Head of State, which introduced administrative liability (fines) for providing misleading information about the product and for inaction in addressing this deficiency.