Kazakhstan has banned import of genetically modified corn NK603. The decree was signed by Kazakhstan’s chief sanitary doctor Zhandarbek Bekshin, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the press-service of Healthcare Ministry.

“In relation to the information on the negative effect on of genetically modified corn NK603 on the health of rats, on October 19 Kazakhstan’s chief sanitary doctor Zhandarbek Bekshin signed a decree banning import, production, use and sales of genetically modified corn resistant to Roundup herbicide at the territory of Kazakhstan,” the message states.

Import of this corn was banned in Russia in September. According to the Ministry, the State Sanitary-Epidemiological Control Commission held several tests on detection of excessive content of GMO in imported goods to ensure observance of the requirenments on import, transportation, production and use of GMO at the territory of Kazakhstan.

“In 2012 laboratories of sanitary-epidemiological service of Kazakstan have tested over 1,939 food samples from 27 countries on content of GMO as part of the planned laboratory monitoring of GMO content. 41.2 percent of the samples were made in Kazakhstan. GMO were discovered in 6 of the tested samples, including in sweet corn Bonduelle made in Russia and sweet corn Corrado made in Hungary that showed GMO content of over 0.9 percent. According to the requirements, foods with GMO content of over 0.9 percent is subject to compulsory marking, while the said goods carried no notifications on GMO content on their packages,” the press-service writes.

Besides, GMO content within the allowed limits of up to 0.9 percent was discovered in four samples: sweet corn Globus made in Russia, vacuum corn Ecos (China), Fa-Fa muffin (Iran) and cooked sausage Zvezda Obshepita (Russia). All these test results were certified by the state food safety reference-laboratory of the State Sanitary-Epidemiological Control Commission.