Official Moves On GM-Free Labelling Welcomed
Official Moves On GM-Free Labelling Welcomed By Consumers But Sets Government On Collision Course Over Trade Agreement "Ban" On Labels.
The Government has moved to put into action one of the recommendations by the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification to support GM-free labelling. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has called a meeting of core stake-holders to determine how the government can facilitate a voluntary labelling regime, but the project could be scuttled before it gets off the ground.
The initial
meeting in Wellington on Wednesday 27th February, includes
consumer-rights groups such as Greenpeace and the National
Consumers Food Safety Network as well as pro-GM
organisations such as Biotenz, and the trans-Tasman food
Authority ANZFA. A
wider round of consultation will take
place in June.
But there are fears that the government push to sign free trade agreements will see all such labeling banned because it is considered a " trade barrier" to GM foods produced in the US.
"We know people support
labelling and will welcome having the government facilitate
GM-Free labels. But the plan could backfire on the
government if they do not succeed in getting labelling but
instead sacrifice basic consumer rights to get free trade
deals", said a
spokesperson for GE-Free NZ in Food and
Environment.
It is hoped that GM-Free labels will come into use on a voluntary basis. Many manufacturers already promise that their products include no GM-derived ingredients.
" In election year any failure to protect these rights, and sacrifice them for free trade deals will backfire. It is in the government's interest to get GM-Free labelling up and running by November so that they can prove their support for consumer rights."
"GM-Free labelling
puts the government on a collision course with those in the
biotech industry who have opposed labelling by claiming GM
ingredients are "substantially equivalent" to normal foods.
This claim has been rejected in reports this month by the
US
National Research Council, and the UK Royal Society
who warned babies, pregnant women and the elderly were
particularly at risk from inadequately tested GM
foods"
The international dispute is set to reach new
heights on 20th March when the worlds biggest market- China-
introduces a labelling and safety-certificate requirement
for GE imports, despite US objections.
Many countries
trying to introduce labelling have already been threatened
under WTO trade agreements. In Canada brands with GM-Free
labels have had the symbols removed and been threatened with
de-listing.
On December 6, 2001, the U.S. House of
Representative passed H.R. 3005, the "Bipartisan Trade
promotion Authority Act of 2001" (i.e. "Fast Track"). Within
the
house-passed legislation is a provision relating to
trade objectives and the labeling of genetically engineered
food. The Fast Track bill states that a principal objective
of U.S. agricultural trade policy is to protect its markets
and advance its exports by trying to eliminate "unjustified
trade barriers" such as "labeling" on new technologies,
including
"biotechnology." The language could be seen as
U.S. intent to prevent (through bi-lateral negotiations or
otherwise) foreign countries "unjustified" labeling of
genetically engineered
foods.
Ends