This past Wednesday a nation bordering China and South of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, decided to become one of the first countries in the world to ban all GMO crops as well as the sale and importation of genetically modified organisms. This means that roughly 5,500,000 inhabitants of this country can enjoy better reproductive, cellular, and digestive health while the environment evades millions more pounds of pesticides.
Joining the trend of other Asian countries to ban GMOs, with China’s recent refusal of 8 different shipments of GMO corn and the nation of Bhutan also going 100% organic, the tide seems to be turning for Monsanto and biotech monopolies who would push herbicide-‘resistant’ seed on the world.
The Kyrgyz Members of Parliament approved the third reading of the bill: ‘On the prohibition of cultivation, production, import and sale in Kyrgyzstan of products containing GMOs’. Food grown within the borders of the country as well as food being imported will be checked for GMO, and all genetically modified food will be refused or destroyed. The Ministry of Economy mentioned that it would be difficult to police GMO products, but not impossible.
To police for GMOs, there is reportedly to be a GMO testing laboratory built before 2015, where not only food coming from abroad, but also food grown in the country will be checked for GMO contamination. The Ministry of Economy noted that to prohibit the importation of GMO products on the ground will be difficult but possible.
The bill is to be finalized after President Almazbek Atambayev pens his signature.
Only 7% of the land in Kyrgyzstan is utilized to grow crops, with 45% being utilized to support pasture for livestock, but this is still an important message to send to the biotech industry which seems adamant on pushing poison food on the world against its will. Tobacco and cotton are two main industries in Kyrgyzstan, but if GMO corn, soy, and sugar beets can be prohibited effectively, then this country is still ahead of the game, even with its production of tobacco – since this crop is shrinking every year. The country also plans to ban tobacco and alcohol advertisers as well.
This is awesome news. You can tell a lot about a country by what they follow blindly, but you can tell more about them by what they stand up for and refuse to be a part of. Let’s hope the rest of the world pays attention to this brave move.
Will the soon to be enacted TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) interfere with banning GMOs? This Treaty will allow companies to sue governments which pass laws which affect their profits. Unbelieveable! But true.
Agreed, Penelope.EVERYONE should be educating themselves about the secretive TPP negotiations taking place which will benefit only the corporations. Barriers to trade, such as refusal to renew pharmaceutical patents, GMO or country of origin labelling etc etc, will subject the offending country to litigation and compensation requirements. These “lawsuits” are to be conducted at secret global tribunals. Attendance at these negotiations is very limited for elected governmental representatives but 600 representatives of multinational corporations are privy to, and forming policy, regarding the details of these trade agreements. Canadian taxpayers right now are facing a $500 million lawsuit under NAFTA agreement from pharmaceutical giant Eli-Lily for their governments refusal to renew a patent on one of Eli-Lily’s drugs and the TPP has been referred to as NAFTA on steroids. Make some noise, ask questions, inform yourself.
We are behind but we will get there one day !
We can vote them out with what we Buy and Educate as to what is going on !