Peru Puts 10-Year National GMO Ban In Place

Peru's Congress has voted to enact a 10-year ban on genetically modified organisms (GMO), which includes the suspension of importation, cultivation, and breeding of genetically modified crops. Legislators who supported the moratorium were driven by the perceived dangers that can arise from biotechnology and the need to protect agricultural diversity. The move ensures that the country will not abet the spread of GMO products worldwide, but recent tests by Peruvian Association of Consumers and Users found around 77% of supermarket products tested showed some GMO contamination, raising questions over how effective the ban will be.