Little progress on GM labelling standards in Codex Committee

Discussions on draft guidelines on the labelling of GM foods and ingredients, prepared by the Ad hoc Working Group on the Labelling of Foods Obtained Through Biotechnology (available at http://www.codexalimentarius.net/ccfl29/fl01_01e.htm), proved to be the most contentious item on the agenda of the CCFL. While agreement was reached on the definitions contained in the draft, delegates failed to move past the first section of the guidelines. In particular, delegates could not agree on the purpose of the guidelines, i.e. whether labelling should be primarily aimed at facilitating consumer choice as advocated in particular by the EU. Countries also failed to agree on the scope of the guidelines, with some countries opposed to requirements for labelling based on the process of production (as set out in paragraph 1.1.2(b) of the draft, which requires the labelling of foods produced with, but not containing GM organisms).

Some described the lack of significant progress as a victory for the US and the processed food industry. The US was strongly opposed to the draft guidelines, arguing that they would encourage mandatory GM food labelling. The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) also welcomed the decision to postpone the debate. "The decision indicates the Committee's caution about advancing a standard not based on sound science that doesn't protect the health of consumers and does not facilitate fair practices in food trade," said Mari Stull, GMA director of international regulatory policy. "The Committee doesn't want to be used as a political or trade tool." A revised version of the draft guidelines, which will take into account the points of contention and the agreed definitions, will now be prepared for the next meeting of the CCFL in May 2002. Following a decision by Committee Chair Anne MacKenzie, a whole day will be set aside during the next meeting to discuss the GM labelling issue.

The Canada-based CCFL is a subsidiary body of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). Codex is recognised by the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) as the international organisation responsible for standard-setting related to food safety and the harmonisation of food safety measures affecting trade. WTO Members are required to base their food safety measures on the CAC's standards, guidelines or recommendations (see BRIDGES Weekly, 20 March 2001; http://www.ictsd.org/html/weekly/20-05-1/story3.htm).

European Commission proposal tightens GM labelling rules

EU labelling regulations for GMOs are set to become significantly stricter, according to an unpublished European Commission proposal obtained by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The new regulations, which aim to end the two-year old de facto moratorium on the approval of GMOs in the EU, would apply to both food products and animal feed.

Previous exceptions for 'substantially equivalent' GMOs (i.e. GMOs that do not differ significantly from their conventional counterparts with respect to composition, nutritional value and use) would be discarded, requiring that the GM component be clearly specified. Labels for GMOs that are not substantially equivalent would need to contain information on possible health impacts, such as allergenic risks, and take into account ethical or religious aspects. The tolerance threshold for accidental presence of GMOs in food and feed would be set at one percent. Food products made with more than 0.5 percent of GMOs (by weight) would be subject to a special approval process with the approval granted for ten years.

The Commission plans to submit the proposed labelling regulations to the Council of Ministers in early June. The regulations will be supplemented by traceability rules also being developed by the Commission.