"These products are dangerous in their unpredictability, especially considering their prolonged use. We don't know their eventual effects on the human body" - Vladimir Kuznetsov, head of the scientific council of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who is among key public, political, and scientific figures who have warned about the dangers of genetically modified products in a letter to President Vladimir Putin.
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Russian Scientists Warn Putin of GM Food Threat
MosNews, 14 October 2004
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/10/14/Scientist_Warn_Putin_of_Biogenetic_Threat.shtml

Russian scientists have warned about the dangers of genetically modified products in a letter to President Putin. Importing genetically modified foods is jeopardizing both Russia's health and agriculture, they claim.

Alexander Baranov, president of the National Association for Genetic Security, explained that genetically modified products are putting the health of the nation in serious danger, RIA News Agency reported. The letter to Vladimir Putin, signed by more than 30 key public, political, and scientific figures, reads:

"This address is imposed by the growing vulnerability of Russia's biological security. There is a process of substituting environmentally friendly foods, which are typical for Russia, with imported genetically modified products. Russia is becoming a site for testing foreign biotechnology."

Among other precautions, the letter advises a ban on using GM products in baby food, a moratorium on growing GM crops before they are proved to be harmless, and a new federal law concerning biological security. The letter also notes that the Russian food market is flooded with imported genetically modified and transgenic products that are not subject to any state control.

"These products are dangerous in their unpredictability, especially considering their prolonged use. We don't know their eventual effects on the human body," Vladimir Kuznetsov, head of the scientific council of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said.

Kuznetsov also warned that some branches of Russian agriculture, such as seed-farming, are disappearing because of the use of genetically modified cultures. Russia's agriculture risks becoming completely dependent on transnational corporations, which will lead to Russia losing its status as a producer of environmentally sound products, he said.

Alexei Yablokov, president of the Center for Environmental Politics, echoed this opposition to "biogenetic terrorism". He said that the roots of biologically modified products are in biological weapons.

The scientists hope that the president will react to the letter, ending "the affair of GM products" quickly.