www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The voluntary certification for absence of genetically modified organisms
(GMO) in the foods is turning into a compulsory requirement, food and drink
producers said in the complaint lodged to the consumer market department of
Moscow government.
On April 24, representatives of ten associations, including Russia?s Union
of Juice Producers, Askond Association of Confectioners, Union of Russia?s
Beer and Nonalcoholic Beverage Producers, addressed a letter to Moscow Mayor
Yury Luzhkov, complaining that the GMO absence mark is turning into a
compulsory requirement. Under today?s laws, however, only the GMO presence
in the foods should be marked without fail.

The regional ?No GMO!? mark was introduced by the Moscow government?s ruling
of February 13, 2007, spelling out additional actions to ensure quality and
safety of foods and provide adequate information to consumers in the city.
Starting from July 1, 2007, the producers may voluntary undergo
certification in one of 16 laboratories. The final list of these
laboratories will be approved on May 22, and the City Hall has appropriated
50 million rubles for their equipment.

So, some biggest retailers ? Pyaterochka and Sedmoi Continent, for
instance, - have strongly recommended to producers to have the ?No GMO!?
mark for foods delivered from June 15. This action will fuel the prices by
0.5 percent to 15 percent, the analysts forecast.

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