ArmInfo. Armenia, based on the analysis of the documentation of the American GMO giant Monsanto, did not reveal any facts indicating that until now the seeds imported by the company were a product of genetic engineering. Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Armenia Ashot Harutyunyan stated in a conversation with the correspondent of ArmInfo.
According to the Deputy Minister, at this stage Armenia adheres to mandatory labeling on all products indicating the presence of GMOs. In addition, despite the fact that the volume of seeds imported by Monsanto in total imports does not reach 1% -127 kg (according to data for 2016), the Armenian legislator is moving in the direction of banning GMO seeds. At the same time, it is possible to form a buffer zone for imported GMO products for research purposes.
Taking into account the public resonance caused by this information, a working commission on studying transgenic technologies in the agro-sphere of the Republic with the participation of representatives of the RA Ministry of Agriculture, nature protection, public health services, as well as public organizations and science held a regular meeting in Armenia in mid-November. In 2013, with the legislative initiative on GMO products in Armenia, the Ministry of Nature Protection acted, however, for unknown reasons the process was suspended. "We plan to return to the legislative initiative and understand how relevant it is today, and whether there is a need for it," Ignaty Arakelyan, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, noted. In January 2018, the head of the State Service for Food Safety of Armenia (GSPPP), Ishkhan Karapetyan, reported that together with the RA Ministry of Agriculture, a legislative package is being developed to regulate and restrict the import of genetically modified products to the republic.
