Environmentalist Silva Adfamyan says that GM-foods are not only imported but also grown in Armenia.
Adamyan has told ArmInfo that the Government has been refusing to discuss the bill "On Biosafety of GM-foods" for a year, however, Melita Hakobyan, President of the National Association of Consumers, says that the bill has been discussed. Meanwhile, Prof. Aida Iskoyan, PhD in Law, Lia Osipyan, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences, Mileta Aristakesyan, Vice Chairperson of the Academy of Protection of Consumers' Rights and other experts, who took part in the discussion of the bill, specify some inaccuracies in the document. The experts stress the need to revise the provision envisaging examination of seeds only. "It is necessary to examine all the food products," they say.
Hakobyan says that at the moment the bill has paled into insignificance and "the Government is tackling the problem of flour fortification."
Both Hakobyan and Adamyan think that Armenia imports the following GM-foods - yogurts, cream cheese, apples, pears, peppers, soybeans, etc. The environmentalist says she has been told by reliable sources that tomatoes contain scorpion genes.
According to the Armenia Law "On Food Safety", the GM-products should be marked, but the dairy and meat products made in Armenia are not marked. Consequently, the citizens rely on the producers' honesty, Melita Hakobyan said.
The experts are still waiting for the Government to respond to their complaints.