Economic agents introduce in the Republic of Moldova genetically modified products without an efficient control mechanism. It is the finding of the Chairman of the Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Food Industry, Radu Mudreac, after the hearings organized on the control regarding the import and marketing of foodstuffs containing genetically modified organisms in 2016-2019, IPN reports.

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture present at the hearings have mentioned that the institution only authorized imports of soybean meals, which contain genetically modified organisms.

Ela Malai, deputy director general of the National Agency for Food Safety, has said that although the institution has the right of control, it does not have a representative in the National Commission for biological safety, which deals with the authorization of imports of products containing genetically modified organisms.

"The economic operator declares on its own responsibility if the foodstuffs introduced in the country contain genetically modified organisms. The state institutions must believe or not believe what the economic agent declares,” said Radu Mudreac.

From an economic point of view, products that have not been labelled as containing genetically modified organisms compete with those that do not contain such organisms, and the consumer is misled - this is another finding of the committee.

"When we export honey, does any country believe us that it does not contain genetically modified organisms or additional controls are carried out? Nobody takes our word for it. So should we,” said Radu Mudreac.

The Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food Industry requested that institutions in charge propose the revision of the legislation and of the manner of control over the import of products containing genetically modified organisms. "I ask ANSA to toughen up on food safety at the entry points into the country ", asked Radu Mudreac.