Euro MPs back GM labelling3 July 2002
The European Parliament today voted for the full labelling and traceability of GM foods and animal feeds. The vote paves the way for new legislation to give consumers and farmers the ability to avoid GM foods if they choose.
This is a major defeat for the biotech industry and the UK Government which has fought to weaken proposals which ensure that food products derived from GM crops are properly labelled. A Eurobarometer survey in December showed that 94 per cent of the public want the right to choose whether to eat GM foods.
The proposals will now go to the Council of Ministers for approval. A further two votes are likely to be needed by the European Parliament over the coming year before the proposals would become law.
"Today's vote is a major success for British consumers and farmers and a serious defeat for the biotech industry who have lobbied so hard to water down these proposals the public should have the right to avoid GM foods if they don't want to eat them. By backing this comprehensive labelling scheme European MPs have paved the way for them to have that choice," said Real Food Campaigner Adrian Bebb. "This vote is also a defeat for the UK Government and Food Standards Agency chief, Sir John Krebs, who have been pushing for weaker rules with the support of the US Government and biotech industry. They should now review their position and back UK consumers instead."
The European Parliament has voted for:
- Full traceability and labelling of foods derived from GM crops
It is estimated that 30,000 products may contain GM-soya and GM-maize derived ingredients such as vegetable oil or maize syrup. Under current EU law only a small minority of these products (restricted to the ones in which GMO DNA or protein is detectable) have to be labelled. - Labelling of GM animal feeds
Euro MPs have voted for GM animal feeds to be labelled. At present they are not. - No contamination by unapproved GM foods
The Commission had earlier proposed that GM foods that have not been yet approved in the EU should be allowed into human and animal food up to a level of 1 per cent. The Parliament has now rejected this proposal. - A threshold of contamination defined
The Parliament voted that foods or feeds that are GM contaminated up to 0.5 per cent would not have to be labelled. FOE believes that contamination is unacceptable and that any threshold should be as good as the testing technology which is currently 0.1 per cent. Many retailers can detect GM down to 0.01 per cent. The Commission and the UK Government had proposed a 1 per cent threshold. - No to a 'GM-free' label
The biotech industry and the UK Government were pushing for a GM-free Label which would increase the cost of GM-free food, making consumers pay more for something they've always had. This was not supported by MEPs.
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