Compulsory labelling for GMOs wins approval

Date: 03/04/1997

ALL genetically-modified farm produce will, in future, require a specific warning label, if proposals adopted by the Commission this week are accepted by EU governments.

After several weeks of political toing and froing, Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard yesterday (2 April) finally persuaded her colleagues to amend EU laws governing the approval of GMOs to include a mandatory labelling requirement.

This must now be approved by representatives from the 15 member states. A triumphant Bjerregaard said she hoped that this could be achieved in the next six to eight weeks.

“This is an important step towards increased consumer protection. It is a first step, but is far from being the last. I have already promised a review of the whole directive before the summer holidays,” she said.

Bjerregaard stressed that the change could not have retroactive effect and would therefore not apply to the 11 GMOs already approved under an EU directive governing the deliberate release of biotechnology products into the environment.

However, the Commissioner expressed optimism that the companies responsible for the products already on the market would be prepared to introduce voluntary labelling, saying she had noted a willingness in the industry to accept the need for such labels.

This week's decision came after Bjerregaard succeeded in overcoming earlier resistance from some members of the Commission, notably Sir Leon Brittan (trade) and Martin Bangemann (industry).

Brittan was concerned that US-based firms at the forefront of such technology could initiate World Trade Organisation proceedings against what might be deemed a technical barrier to trade. But, while expressing “concern”, US diplomats claimed the proposed rules would not be problematic as long as what had been decided was in line with the novel foods regulation due to come into force in May.

“We have not contacted the Americans, but will do what is necessary to reassure the WTO at a later stage,” said Bjerregaard.

By requiring firms who develop modified agricultural raw materials to label their products, the decision should also make it easier for manufacturers of finished food products to ensure compliance with the labelling requirements in the novel foods regulation.

Bjerregaard suggested the new labelling duty would ensure that GMOs were tracked throughout the production process, but stressed that outstanding issues would be dealt with in a separate report which the Commission would prepare rapidly.