Ukraine Adopts Biosafety Law

Ukraine has adopted a biosafety law that regulates creating, testing, transporting and using genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The law will control relations between executive authorities, manufacturers and developers of GM technology, researchers and consumers. Under the law, the central executive authority on education and science and central executive authority on ecology and natural resources will develop safety criteria for GMO handling in laboratories as well as in the field. The country’s Cabinet of Ministers will be responsible for approving the criteria drafted by the executive authorities and issuing permits for field trials. Since November last year, Ukraine has enforced the Government’s Decree 985 which enacts compulsory labeling of GM containing products and bans the import, manufacturing, and sales of children’s food products containing transgenic organisms. According to the text of the resolution, such measures are taken in order to bring Ukrainian laws into compliance with the standards of the European Union.

The complete text of the provision is available at http://www.bsbanet.org/doc/kucha/law_ukr_eng.pdf For more information visit the Black Sea Biotechnology Association Website at http://www.bsbanet.org/newsn.php?ln=en&news=2