Russia lifts ban on GM corn imports from EU - Onishchenko
MOSCOW. Dec 26 (Interfax) - Russia's sanitary service has lifted a ban on imports to Russia of genetically modified corn NK603 from EU countries, which had been imposed in September 2012.
Gennady Onishchenko, the head of consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor and the chief state sanitary doctor, told Interfax Wednesday that the ban had been lifted after additional investigation and the receipt of new materials from the EU that confirm that the product is safe.
"We lifted the restrictions associated with suspending imports and turnover of genetically modified NK603 corn," he said.
"Analysis of its use in food in 15 countries around the world and the EU during the entire period of use did not reveal any adverse effects of the genetically modified corn," he said.
"We reached the conclusion that by its chemical composition the genetic corn was equivalent to its traditional analogue and that the protein is not toxic for humans and is not an allergen," he said.
Rospotrebnadzor on September 24 suspended the import to Russia and turnover of GM corn NK603 after the publication of information on the negative impact of this product on the health of laboratory animals.
The measures were taken following publication in the Food and Safety Toxicology journal of the results of studies by scientists from Italy and France on the herbicide Roundup and GM corn, the Russian consumer rights watchdog reported on its website at the time.