UK opposed EU GM labelling rules17 October 2002
The UK Government was the only EU country to oppose European Commission proposals to ensure that food containing GM-derived ingredients is properly labelled when European Environment Ministers discussed the issue in Luxembourg on October 17. The position was revealed in limited circulation documents obtained by Friends of the Earth. The UK is also pushing to lift a four year European moratorium on the licensing of new GM food and crops. Friends of the Earth says that their position shows that once again the UK is supporting the interests of the biotech industry over those of consumers and the environment.
The European Commission proposals aim to make GM labelling rules more comprehensive. At present EU rules say that food containing 1 per cent or more of GM DNA must be labelled. The current proposals tighten the regulations to cover animal feed and GM derivatives (such as vegetable oil and maize syrup). The move would allow consumers to choose whether or not they eat GM-derived food. Recent Europe-wide opinion polls indicate that 71 per cent of the public do not want to eat GM food, and 94 per cent want clear labelling to give them a choice.
UK opposition to GM labelling was revealed when the proposals were discussed in July. Council of the European Union documents reveal that the UK was alone in consistently opposing the extension of regulations to cover derivatives in food and animal feed (copies available from FOE). Friends of the Earth understands that the position of the UK Government, and that of other EU Member States, have not changed.
European Environment Ministers are expected to discuss a number of crucial GM issues at Thursday's meeting. These include:
- New proposals for the labelling and traceability of GMOs
- Environmental liability
- Whether to end the European Union GM moratorium on commercial GM approvals.
"Once again the UK Government is putting the interests of the biotech industry ahead of consumers and the environment," Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner Pete Riley said. "Why else is the UK opposing European GM labelling rules when every other EU Member State supports the proposals? They also want to end the moratorium on licensing new GM food and crops, despite the absence of any rules to protect farmers, consumers and the environment from unwanted GM contamination."
"The Government's stance on this issue makes a complete mockery of its claim to have an open mind on GM issues. It also further undermines the credibility of the Government's public debate on GM crops," he added.
Friends of the Earth is concerned that widespread growing of GM crops will:
- Remove consumer choice: European scientists have already warned that contamination from commercial growing of GM crops would lead to non-GM farmers having to label their foods as containing GM.
- Threaten the environment: UK Government wildlife watchdogs have warned that new proposals to allow contamination of non-GM seeds could result in adverse impacts on farmland biodiversity.
- Create chaos in the countryside: The situation could end up with farmers suing farmers, organic farming threatened and the rights of people to grow GM free food seriously undermined.
- Compromise farming options for future generations: Many GM crops are virtually irrecoverable and will contaminate both the food chain and the countryside.
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