New law: Genetically modified seeds banned from entering Georgia

Work on a new Bill to prohibit importing live genetically modified organisms into Georgia has begun.

The Bill prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource aimed to place restrictions on genetically modified organisms being imported to Georgia.

The Genetically Modified Organisms Bill stated it would be illegal to bring seeds of live genetically modified organisms (GMO) into Georgia. However it was permissible if someone brought such seeds into the country only if the seeds were planted in a quarantined enclosed area.

The new Bill does not include issues related to genetically modified products stored in market networks therefore it did not set any regulation on this.

"A distinction must be made between genetically modified seeds and genetically modified seed production. This latter is permitted to be imported to Georgia,” George Tsagareishvili, of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of Parliament, said.

"But Georgia has been declared as a closed zone … [which] means genetically modified raw seeds must not come into Georgian territory.”

"We do not have huge rural - agricultural lands but Georgia within Europe is the ‘Last Island’ which provides ecologically pure products. This is why we are attractive to the rest of the world. Ecologically clear products are what we should promote to the European food market,” Tsagareishvili believed.

A detailed Government study into GMO’s revealed there appeared to be two companies which imported GMO products into Georgia.

Under the new law, activities relating to live GMO’s will be subject to administrative and criminal responsibility.