The regulation recommends that producers, suppliers and
retailers "refrain from production, supplies and sales of GM food
products in the territory of Moscow". Greenpeace considers this to
be one of the most important provisions.
"This means that Moscow authorities have finally come to the
decision to support political declarations with real actions and
bring to life the idea of making the capital a GMO free zone" -
says Natalia Olefirenko, Greenpeace GE campaigner.
The Department for the Consumer Market and Services of Moscow
(DCSS) will issue free licenses to use the label. All a producer
has to do is to submit its product for analysis at a DCSS
laboratory and to get a certified result. The license will be valid
for a year and can be renewed by repeating test. Food labeled "GMO
free" will go on sale starting from 1 July 2007.
"The proposed reverse labeling is much more effective than the
"contains GMO" label, says Natalia Olefirenko. The latter proved to
be ineffective: most producers "forgot" to mention the presence
transgenes in their products. That is why Greenpeace repeatedly
insisted on introducing the "reverse" labeling. Evidently, a new
label will be popular with producers and will help consumers to
make choices while shopping in Moscow".
50 million roubles were allocated in the 2007 budget for
implementing the program. The funds will be used to purchase more
equipment for laboratories and to conduct full scale tests of food
products.
It is noteworthy that the regulation was developed with the
participation of non-governmental organizations and provides for
active involvement of NGOs at all stages of food market
monitoring.
In addition, the regulation instructs the supervisory bodies to
make public the results of all tests, including a list of producers
concealing information about GMO in their products.
"We also hope that the Moscow authorities do everything possible
to ensure that the planned tests are not used in the competitive
struggle between companies", concludes Natalia.