Deputies plan to tighten control over GMO in Ukraine

the Committee on agrarian policy and land relations of the Verkhovna Rada adopted on 20 November to consider six bills.

Bill # 7186 "On state control over GMO products in agriculture and food industry", which takes into account the provisions of the government bill No. 7210, will ensure the implementation of effective system of public control at all stages of production, circulation and research of GMO products, risk assessment, state registration of GMOs their entry into the market and labelling taking into account the international requirements and establish responsibility for violation of legislation on these issues.

Bill No. 8121 "On counteraction to corporate raiding" agreed the second reading and make amendments to existing legislation to stop the illegal takeover and seizure of enterprises in the agribusiness, construction, agricultural machinery and other assets. In addition, improving the regulation of land relations, the process of registration of land and property rights, improved cooperation between State land cadastre and Registry of rights to immovable property.

Bill # 8450 "About information for consumers about food products," agreed the second reading, and should provide a high level of protection of health, rights and interests of consumers, in order to provide the necessary information about the products.

Bill No. 9022 on the identification and registration of animals is recommended to adopt in the first reading, to bring domestic legislation into line with EU requirements.

Bill No. 9162 "On fundamentals of state agricultural policy and rural development policy" agreed to the adoption on first reading with the aim of fulfilling the European integration of Ukraine's obligations to bring domestic laws into line with EU law in the field of agriculture that will allow Ukraine to obtain financial support from the EU and world organizations such as EBRD, world Bank, FAO, USAID and others.

However, due to the lack of quorum, the deputies were unable to consider in the session hall of the abovementioned documents, and other bills, in particular on the development of family farms, agricultural insurance, support machinery for agriculture, requirements to items and materials contacting with food products.