MOSCOW, February 18. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian government is tightening control over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agricultural products, following instructions by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to the Agricultural Ministry, the Rospotrebnadzor consumer rights watchdog and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

At a session on February 6, the prime minister instructed these agencies to “take measures to update the system of control over GMOs in agricultural products, raw materials and foodstuffs with taking into account best international practices” and report to the government before May 25.

At the session Medvedev said a research base for GMOs would be created in Russia. “The issue of GMO is very thorny, as we have no normal base that would let us judge what is going on in the country,” the prime minister admitted.

Prior to that, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich spoke categorically against genetically modified crops.

“You spoke about crops,” Medvedev told Dvorkovich at the session. “I will not be surprised to learn that we already have such crops, and now the task of the Agricultural Ministry and other colleagues is to assume control over that issue, to simply create a research base so that we could understand what is being imported, what has been planted and what is being produced,” he said.

At the same time, the State Duma lower house is already considering a bill tightening control over genetically modified products and imposing a ban on their imports.