Archived press release

New GM labelling laws in force

16 April 2004

New labeling laws which come into force across Europe today (Sunday 18 April) giving consumers better information about genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food [1] won't give shoppers a genuine GM-free choice, according to Friends of the Earth. Food accidentally containing small amounts (0.9%) of GM will still not legally need to be labeled, nor will the products of animals fed GM feed, like milk and meat.

Friends of the Earth has launched a GM "Zero Tolerance" campaign, calling on supermarkets to give customers a real GM free choice by going further than the law. They can do this by eliminating all GM ingredients down to the lowest levels of detection and getting rid of GM animal feed in the production of milk, meat and other animal products. The environmental group is also asking shoppers to report any GM labeled food in stores via text or e-mail[2].

It follows a recent survey by Friends of the Earth (April 14 2004) which revealed the UK's leading supermarkets and food manufacturers will continue to reject GM food, with most saying they will not need to label any of their own-brand products when the new regulations come into force [3].

Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner Clare Oxborrow said:

"Whilst we welcome the new GM food labeling laws, they don't go nearly far enough. Small amounts of GM ingredients can still find their way into our food without needing to be labeled and consumers still won't be able to avoid milk and meat from animals fed GM feed. Supermarkets have already listened to their customers and put in place GM free policies, but they could be going further. Consumers have tremendous power over retailers, and we are urging them to use that power to ensure that everyone has a real choice about what they eat

The United States Government has threatened to challenge the European GM labeling scheme under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. The USA and a handful of other countries have already launched a WTO case over Europe's de facto moratorium on the granting of new GM licenses on GM food and crops.

Notes

• The new EU labeling regulations mean that any food containing a GM ingredient or derivative (like highly processed oils and lecithin) in amounts of more than 0.9 per cent will have to be labeled as "This product contains genetically modified organisms". For the first time GM animal feed will also have to be labeled.

• The threshold of 0.9 per cent still allows for accidental contamination, meaning that GM ingredients could still creep into processed foods without having to be labeled.

• Another weakness is that animal products (like milk, meat and eggs) from animals fed GM feed still don't have to be labeled, so consumers don't have the choice to avoid them.

• Accidental contamination of up to 0.5 per cent of a GM ingredient not approved in the EU will be allowed before it has to be labeled.

Friends of the Earth is calling on supermarkets to put in place zero tolerance policies to:

• Eliminate all GM ingredients and derivatives down to 0.1 per cent - the current lowest reliable level of detection

• Stop selling own brand products such as milk, eggs, meat and fish from animals that have been fed GM feed

• Remove (and refuse to stock) any products from their shelves that contain GM ingredients

Notes

[1] Traceability and Labeling of GMOs (Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003)

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_268/l_26820031018en00240028.pdf (PDF format)

[2] Friends of the Earth is asking shoppers to send details of any GM labeled foods by texting 83248 (starting the message with foe gmo) or using our contact page including the date spotted, brand, product, the supermarket/store and the town/city. See http://www.foe.co.uk/gmfree/ for more information

[3] www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/ ¬
food_firms_reject_gm_ingre_15042004.html
(PDF format)

Response to Friends of the Earth's Supermarket/GM Labeling Survey (14 April 2004)

Supermarkets

J Sainsbury:

"Based on the informal guidance received to date from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) we see no reason for any changes that will be required to be made to the labeling of our own label foods." - Letter 31 April 2004

M&S

"as a 100 % own brand retailer we are able to offer our customers a very clear proposition that all Marks & Spencer food is produced using non GM ingredients and derivatives" - Letter 12 March 2004

Waitrose:

"I can confirm that Waitrose continues to obtain food and food ingredients for Waitrose brand from conventional (rather than GM) sources and to transport and process them in a way designed to prevent accidental mixing with GM material. Therefore there will be no changes to the labeling of Waitrose brand products as far as genetically modified ingredients are concerned." - Letter 10 March 2004

Co-op:

"With regard to our current product range and the impact of the impending EU regulations, none of our range will require labeling as containing GM ingredients"

Budgens

"..it will remain our policy to ensure that no own brand products contain GM ingredients"

Tesco:

"Tesco does not…have any own-label GM foods on its shelves, and this will not change as a result of the new EU legislation in April… the new legislation will mean that branded products on our shelves which have GM ingredients will have to be labelled, enabling the customer to make an informed choice."

Morrisons/ Safeway:

"We have removed GM ingredients and GM derivatives from all our own label products. In accordance with current legislation we expect branded goods that contain GM ingredients to be clearly labelled to enable our shoppers to make their own informed choice about what they are buying.

Regarding GM animal feed, we are working with our suppliers to come up with a solution that will support our existing policy."

ASDA:

"…we do not at this stage anticipate private label products requiring GM labeling."

Somerfield/ Kwiksave

"Our position with regards to Genetic Modification remains unchanged. The changes in the EU regulations will not affect our own label products or the way that we continue to produce them."

Iceland:

"Iceland own brand products have been made without GM ingredients since 1998 and we can confirm our commitment to this policy remains…The new regulations will not lead to any change in this position." Letter 14 March 2004

Others

Unilever:

"We do not expect there will be labelled products…" Dick Toot, Unilever - phone conversation 6/4/04

Associated British foods -

All ABF brands are GM free - phone conversation.

Nestle

Nestl recognises consumer concerns about different aspects of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and therefore continues to provide non-GM products.

Cadbury Schweppes:

"from 18th April 2004 the date the regulation occurs our products will not require GM labeling." - e-mail 5 April 2004

Document created with wvWare/wvWare version 0.7.2

-->

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust