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Zayats: Belarusian Food Producers Do Not Use Palm Oil, GMOs
Zayats: Belarusian Food Producers Do Not Use Palm Oil, GMOs
07/10/2014 (BelTA) - Belarusian processing companies do not use palm oil and genetically modified organisms to manufacture food products, Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats told a press conference when asked by a Russian journalist, BelTA has learned.
"The Belarusian processing companies work in compliance with the GOST state standards. We do not use any by-products such as palm oil or GMOs. This is out of the question,” said the minister.
According to him, from time to time counterfeit products under the guise of Belarusian brands get to the shelves of Russian stores which include palm oil. "This issue has been repeatedly discussed with the Rosselkhoznadzor," he said.
The minister noted that all processing companies in Belarus have been certified. Over 90 of them have implemented the international system of hazard analysis and critical control points. Many producers operate the food safety management systems to maintain control over safety of food products in the entire process chain: from a farmer to a consumer. Four companies have won the right to supply products to the European market. Eight companies have been awarded the international Halal food certificate to supply food products to Muslim countries.
"The Belarusian processing companies work in compliance with the GOST state standards. We do not use any by-products such as palm oil or GMOs. This is out of the question,” said the minister.
According to him, from time to time counterfeit products under the guise of Belarusian brands get to the shelves of Russian stores which include palm oil. "This issue has been repeatedly discussed with the Rosselkhoznadzor," he said.
The minister noted that all processing companies in Belarus have been certified. Over 90 of them have implemented the international system of hazard analysis and critical control points. Many producers operate the food safety management systems to maintain control over safety of food products in the entire process chain: from a farmer to a consumer. Four companies have won the right to supply products to the European market. Eight companies have been awarded the international Halal food certificate to supply food products to Muslim countries.