Archived press release

Euro MPs back GM labelling

3 July 2002

UK Government position defeated

The European Parliament today voted for the full labelling and traceability of genetically modified (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.

Today’s vote by Euro MPs is a major defeat for the biotech industry and the UK government who have fought to weaken proposals which ensure that food products derived from GM crops are properly labelled. A Eurobarometer survey in December showed that 94% 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.

Adrian Bebb of Friends of the Earth said:
“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.

“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:

1. 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.
   
   
2. Labelling of GM animal feed s
   Euro MPs have voted for GM animal feeds to be labelled. At present they are not.
   
   
3. 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%. The Parliament has now rejected this proposal.
   
   
4. A threshold of contamination defined
   The Parliament voted that foods or feeds that are GM contaminated up to 0.5 % 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%. Many retailers can detect GM down to 0.01%. The Commission and the UK Government had proposed a 1% threshold.
   
   
5. No to a ‘GM-free’ label
   The biotech industry and the UK Government were pushing for a GM-Free label. This would increase the cost of GM-free food, making consumers pay more for something they’ve always previously had. This was not supported by the Parliament.
   

What the Parliament didn’t vote for
MEP’s rejected the labelling of animal products from animals fed GM feeds eg milk, meat and eggs by 3 votes (258 to 255). FOE will continue to press for these products to be labelled.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust