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GREENPEACE LAUNCHES GENETECH LABELLING POLICY AS EUROPEAN COMMISSION FAILS TO DO SO
Brussels, 3 November 1997
As the European Commission failed at the weekend to meet its own deadline for labelling genetically engineered foodstuffs, Greenpeace today revealed its own comprehensive labelling policy to inform and protect EU consumers.
"Greenpeace remains totally opposed to the introduction of genetically engineered organisms into the environment and food supplies," said campaigner Michelle Sheather. "But at the very least customers must have the right to know which food has been genetically manipulated."
Genetically engineered products began appearing in food in the EU in late 1996 with soya and maize imports from the US. One year later the EU Commission has failed to label any of these products, in spite of it setting its own deadline for labelling rules to be implemented by 1 November.
"We still do not know the impacts of this genetic experiment with our food, said Sheather. "We do not want another scandal such as the BSE beef crisis. Consumers should know if they are eating beef, eggs, dairy products or procesed foods that contain genetech foods or animals that have been fed them. Clear labelling should be immediately implemented for all food derived from genetically altered organisms. This includes products such as chocolates, soups and pastas that contain genetech soya but also poultry, pig, dairy and beef products where the animals have been fed genetech fodder such as soya or maize.
"The real necessity for the EU is to insist on separate streams of conventionally produced crops and those which have been genetically manipulated," added Sheather. "US trade and industrial pressure has so far prevented this. Greenpeace challenges the EU Commission to carry out its responsibilities to safeguard EU citizens' health and the environment and to include segregation of genetically engineered crops in EU law, such as under the Novel Food regulation."
In order to highlight the Commission's failure to come up with a genetech labelling policy which should have come into force at the weekend, Greenpeace today sent chocolate Sanata Clauses containing a surprise to the Commission and to all European Health and Consumer Affairs Ministers from EU members states.
The Santa Clauses were labelled "We do not want to be surprised. We want to know! Greenpeace". Inside the chocolate figures is a test tube symbolising the genetic experiment with our food, and a message demanding stronger labelling, and a clear logo.
Greenpeace also revealed its own genetech logo which would clearly show if food products contain genetically manipulated materials or products derived from them. A similar logo could readily be used with the EU and implemented immediately. The Greenpeace labelling policy calls for products that contain or are produced by genetically manipulated organisms, such as seeds, animal feed and food products and their components, to be very clearly labelled.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Michelle Sheather tel: +31 6 5350 4775.