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EUROPEAN CONSUMERS STILL IN THE DARK AS COMMISSION ANOUNCES DETAILS OF GE FOOD LABELLING PLAN
Brussels, 3 December, 1997
Around 80% of products derived from genetically modified soybeans and maize will go unlabelled under the European Commission's labelling Regulations, as revealed in Brussels today (Wednesday).
"It is hard to understand that it took the EU Commission more than a year to come up with a labelling proposal that doesn't label most of the soya and maize products," said Greenpeace campaigner Benny Haerlin. "This Regulation actually denies consumers the right to know what they eat and leaves the farmers, industry and the national authorities in complete confusion."
Opinion polls have shown that more than 90% of European consumers want clear labelling of all products derived from genetic engineering. This not only includes soya-products such as oil or lecithin but also products of animals beeing fed with genetically engineered soybeans or maize.
Under the Commission's plans, only a minority of GE products would have to be labelled as "produced from genetically modified soya" (or maize). These are products where the manipulated DNA itself or proteins altered by the manipulation can be traced with present methods of analysis. This would not include major supermarket items such as soya oil, margarine and chocolate.
In addition, the Regulation excludes all food additives, flavourings and extraction solvents from any labelling requirements. Even products where genetically engineered DNA can be detected would not have to be labelled if the engineered component, such as soya lecitihin, is considered a food additive and not a food ingredient.
At present methods for detecting DNA in foodstuffs are not standardized and in rapid development. While there might be no reliable means to identify the modified DNA in certain products today, such a test might well exist in a few months. Products made from identical ingredients could either fall under the regulation or not, solely depending on whether some of their ingredients have been pre-cooked.
"This is a ridiculous proposal," said Haerlin. "The Standing Committee on food, representing the member states competent authorities must reject the Commission's proposal at its next meeting on December 18th."1 Greenpeace demands the segregation of genetically engineered and normal crops, and a proper labelling system tracing genetically modified products from source. The organisation has presented a simple and clear scheme for labelling including an easy to recognize logo.
Notes
The Commission's proposal requires the approval by qualified majority of the Standing Committee on Food. If the Commission does not recieve the support of the Committee, the proposal must be submitted to the Council of Ministers.
For further information please contact:
Benedikt Haerlin, ++49 30 308 899-16;
Louise Gale, Greenpeace European Unit, ++ 32 2 280 1400