Turkish biosecurity council allows use of genetically modified soybeans, corn as animal food

ANKARA

Turkey’s Biosecurity Council has approved the use of three types of genetically modified soybeans and one type of genetically modified corn as animal food in a decision published in the Official Gazette on Aug. 2, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. 

The decision was undertaken after the Poultry Meat Producers and Breeders Association (BESD-BİR) applied to the council. The council then analyzed reports prepared by its scientific risk evaluation and socioeconomic evaluation committees, approving that MON87708, BPS-CV127-9 and MON87705 soybeans as well as MON87460 type corn can all be used to feed animals under certain conditions. 

Turkey normally does not allow the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) for food. 

Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) group deputy chair Levent Gök asked on Aug. 2 in a parliamentary question why the pesticide chlorpyrifos was still being found in agricultural products despite its ban in Turkey. 

“Although a decision was taken that products with the pesticide [chlorpyrifos] were to be collected until May 31, 2016, and the poison’s [chlorpyrifos] production was banned [in Turkey], what are the reasons that in August this substance is still being found in agricultural products?” Gök said in a question to Food and Agriculture Minister Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba. 

Gök also asked Fakıbaba to give a list of product types and their quantities that were sent back to Turkey from abroad between 2014 and 2017 for “including unhealthy substances.”