Peru and Kenya Ban GMOs
A 10-year ban on genetically modified foods in Peru came into effect this week, state news agency Andina reported.
Peru’s executive has approved the regulations for the law that prohibits the importation, production and use of GMO foods in the country.
Violating the law can result in a maximum fine of 10,000 UIT tax units, which is about 36.5 million soles ($14 million). The goods can also be seized and destroyed, according to the norms.
The law, which was approved by President Ollanta Humala last year, is aimed at preserving Peru’s biodiversity and supporting local farmers, Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal said. — Peruvian Times
And in another blow to the biotech monopolisers, Kenya has also just banned the importation of GMOs into their African nation:
Those of you who have opportunity to influence the officials and/or the public in these countries are encouraged to do what you can to ensure these bans remain in place. I say this as these countries will now face the full force of pressure and propaganda that a well-financed Big Biotech can muster to reverse this legislation. You can see this pressure occuring already, with headlines such as ‘Kenya risks losing billions over GMO ban‘. But the reality is that Kenya and Peru risk taking a giant leap forward in building their own resiliency, and in finding economically and ecologically sustainable ways to grow food that’s not based on impossibly finite methods which destroy life-critical soil carbon. Please share with these people about the many GMO myths and truths and educate them with the value and advantages of natural farming systems so they can step out of the industry-dependence treadmill, where they continually play ‘battle the symptoms‘ with a failed agricultural paradigm.
Instead of being beholden to the large corporates presently undermining their soil-wealth whilst fleecing their economy and undermining their food security, if these bans remain in place, Peru and Kenya can look to their own future — learning to build soil instead of mining it — and in doing so can develop a far greater level of resiliency against coming climate impacts and economic shocks.
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