Rules for labeling of GMO products may be toughen
State Inspectorate for Consumer Protection initiated food labeling on the content of genetically modified organisms, regardless of their share of the content in the product. This is stated in the draft decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, which has developed Gospotrebzaschity.
In particular, the draft document proposes to abolish the previous government decree of May 13, 2009, which approved the procedure for labeling of GMO foods, and adopt new rules. Gospotrebzaschita proposes a new definition of products containing GMOs.
In their understanding of GMO products - is a food product that is fully or some of its components contain genetically modified organisms, without specifying the proportion of content.
In addition to label products that are produced using GMOs. For each component, containing GMOs must be indicated separately "(GMO)" with the name of the organism, the same font, and a list of components.
If the product is sold without packaging, or packaging largest surface is less than 10 square centimeters, an indication of the content of GMOs should be on the labels next to the product or packaging material to a font size not less than 2 millimeters.
Labelling of products that do not contain GMOs should be carried out applying the label "non-GMO" letters not less than 2 millimeters.
As reported, December 17, 2009 Parliament introduced a mandatory labeling of food products for GMO content. On July 1, 2009 the Cabinet has increased the level of genetically modified organisms in food for their mandatory labeling from 0.1% to 0.9%.
In July, Parliament has refused to set the contents of the registered genetically modified organisms in food at levels not less than 0.9% of the total mass per unit of packaging for their mandatory labeling.