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Iran is seeing its most vociferous outcry yet over the use of genetically-modified ingredients in food production.

Opponents of food products with GMOs have recently elicited fatwas from top clerics, declaring commercial sale and cultivation of genetically-altered crops “not permitted.”

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Last year, Iran imported $5.5 billion of GM products, according to head of the Iranian Organic Association Ali Nourani who said the imports were threatening the health of consumers.

Nourani has said Iran’s move toward embracing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) makes no economic sense.

“The Iranian society is not starving to say we must move toward genetically modified products, which amounts to toying with the health of the people.”

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The European Union has rigorous restrictions in place on GM cultivation in the 28-member bloc while countries such as France have banned the cultivation of genetically modified crops.

A variety of GM products, chiefly rice and cooking oil, is imported into Iran, however. Iran has also been dabbling with biotechnology for years, cloning its first sheep in 2006.

The first GM rice is already grown in Iran for human consumption. In May 2015, the first sample of Iran’s GM cotton was unveiled by Minister of Agriculture Mahmoud Hojjati.