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{
    "id": 34746,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/34746/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 149,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Raila",
    "speaker_title": "The Prime Minister",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 195,
        "legal_name": "Raila Amolo Odinga",
        "slug": "raila-odinga"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, in line with your ruling yesterday that the Government issues a Statement on genetically modified foods, in particular, the importation and consumption of the genetically modified maize, I rise to make the following Statement. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines GMOs as organisms in which the genetic material, otherwise known as the deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is artificially altered in a way that does not occur naturally. This technology, sometimes called biotechnology or gene technology or genetic engineering, allows the selection and transfer of individual genes from one organism to another. With regard to foods, gene technology has been used to improve geneability and the nutritional value of crops, improve crop resistance against plant diseases, increase crop yields, generate seeds that mature faster with little rain and generally reduce the use of herbicides or insecticides in agricultural production. With regard to the safety of GMO foods, the WHO has opined as follows:- “The GMO foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessment and are not likely to present this for human health. In addition, no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in countries where they have been approved. Continuous use of risk assessment based on the Codex Principles and where appropriate, including post-market monitoring should form the basis of evaluating the safety of GMO foods”. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the World Health Organisation (WHO) lists maize, soya bean, squash, potato, oil seeds and chicory as GMO crops currently on the international market. These crops are traded in Argentina, Canada, Republic of South Africa, United States of America, and in some European Union (EU) countries. I table the WHO answers to 20 questions frequently asked on GMO foods."
}