Why did Russia ban GMO foods?

For example, a 2013 article in the Nation states that 26 countries had total or partial bans on GMOs, “including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, ... In 2014, Russia banned the importation of biotech crops, and officially banned their cultivation, with an exception allowed for scientific research. read more

Russia is the most populous country to ban both the cultivation and importation of GMO crops. In 2014, Russia banned the importation of biotech crops, and officially banned their cultivation, with an exception allowed for scientific research. read more

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev recently announced that Russia will no longer import GMO products, stating that the nation has enough space, and enough resources to produce organic food. If the Americans like to eat GMO products, let them eat it then. read more

In EU only two GMO varieties have been licensed for commercial harvesting and GMO foods are accordingly labeled. However, in US, there are more than 96 GMO varieties and so far only few states including Hawaii, Alaska, Connecticut and Maine have been able to pass GMO labeling bill. Recently even Russia and China have banned the import of GE foods. read more