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The government has banned the importation of genetically modified food, with immediate effect, a senior Health Services official, said, yesterday. The ban follows a policy decision taken in February, this year, by the National Food Advisory Committee, sources said. It concerns the importation of raw material as well as foods produced through the aid of DNA technology. It also relates to foods that have one or more ingredient, additive or preservative, produced through this technology. According to Health Services officials, the ban was imposed because they did not know the long term effect of these foods and even the government's Food Advisory Committee was keen to avoid health risks associated with these type of foods. Further, they are already banned in European countries and even the U.S which has continuously promoted these foods, is now having second thoughts. The list of foods to be banned is presently being studied by a sub committee appointed by the Food Advisory Committee, which will be released next month, reports said. Once the list is released, importers could obtain certification from manufacturing countries that the specific ingredients did not exist in the foods they were bringing into the country and punishments for offenders of the newly imposed ban would be referred to the Attorney General's Department, officials said. According to officials, reports have not been received, so far, of these type of foods being imported to the country or being sold here, but this ban has been imposed to stop its import in the future. Genetically engineered beans manufactured mainly in the U.S
are used heavily in processed foods such as bread, infant formula, ice
cream, chocolate, vitamins, cheese, manufactured meats and all soy and
tofu products, reports said.
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