Last week Turkey placed in effect a ban on the importation of products containing biotechnology. But, enforcement of the ban is being delayed. Joe O'Brien, U.S. Grains Council Regional Director in the Middle East and Subcontinent says they think the delay is due to industry pressure to allow commodities to enter Turkey that are in port. But Obrien says it is believed that implementation of the ban will begin shortly after most pending shipments are cleared.
Several weeks ago, the U.S. Grains Council reported Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs had released a directive, ordered by the Turkish Danistay Court, to repeal the Oct. 26, 2009 regulation that restricted market access of products containing biotechnology derived content. The MOA appealed the Court's decision and overturned the regulation reinstating the ban.
According to Rebecca Fecitt, Director of USGC's Biotechnology Program, Turkey's new biosafety law will likely be discussed in Parliament in March or April of this year. Fecitt believes it is possible that if this law passes, it may provide a legal basis for the ban to exist.
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