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Euro MPs back GM labels
4 June 2002
Friends of the Earth welcomes today's (Tuesday) decision by the Environment Committee of the European Parliament to extend the labelling obligations for food, and feed-products, derived from genetically modified organisms (GMO's).
Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
"Consumers throughout Europe have made it clear that they do not want to eat GM food, and they expect their politicians to respect that view. The European Environment Committee's vote is extremely welcome. It's a vote for common sense, food-safety and the environment. But most of all it acknowledges the right of consumers to know whether their food is produced from GMO's."
The Environment Committee decided to confirm the European Commission's proposal to label all food that is produced directly from GMO's. Moreover, the Parliamentarians went one step further. They amended the Commission's proposal and called for the labelling of products (like milk, eggs and meat) that are derived from animals raised on GMO-feed.
The Environment Committee also deleted the Articles from the Commission's proposal that would allow up to a threshold of 1 % the adventitious presence of unauthorised GMO in food and feed.
In July the plenary (all 626 members) of the European Parliament will vote on the labelling of GMO's.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
