Voluntary GMO labelling slammed

Non-governmental organisations have slammed the results of the latest vote from the Canadian General Standards Board Committee on the voluntary labelling of GMO foods, claiming that such a move will make a mockery of enforced labelling.

In a move that is being closely watched by the global food industry, the ballot results released yesterday revealed that the government industry committee has reached a consensus on a voluntary labelling standard for genetically engineered foods.

"Voluntary labelling of GMO frankenfood is a sham and is unlikely to even lead to one label on one GMO product in one of Canada's grocery stores,"​ said Patrick Venditti of Greenpeace. "This is a bogus standard that has been manufactured by industry and government to avoid a proper mandatory labelling regime for GE foods."​

As it is voluntary, no labels on GMO foods will be required. The standard also allows for products containing 5 per cent GMO material to be labelled non-GE. Of the 38 votes in favour of the standard, 20 represent industry, while nine represent various levels of government. All consumer groups involved in the process either voted against or withdrew from the process. Polls have revealed that the majority of Canadians want labels on GMO food.

"Enough is enough. Ottawa knows that Canadians want a mandatory labelling policy and it is high time that this government did something about it,"​ said Nadege Adam of the Council of Canadians. "Canadians want labels that protect human health and the environment, not industry profits and government bureaucrats."​

"None of the GMO crops grown in Canada have undergone chronic, long-term testing,"​ said Bradford Duplisea of the Canadian Health Coalition. "The reality is that no one knows if GE foods are safe to eat. People who don't want to eat these untested products should be able to avoid them, but without mandatory labelling they can't."​

The various organisations opposing the move claim that the voluntary labelling committee is one in a long list of government manoeuvres aimed at avoiding a mandatory labelling policy. The government organised the defeat of Bill C-287 - a private member's bill to establish mandatory labelling - and promised to hold parliamentary hearings instead. Shortly after starting however, the Health Committee suspended hearings.

"Jean Chretien should do the right thing before leaving office and give Canadians their long awaited mandatory labelling standard,"​ said Lucy Sharratt from the Polaris Institute.

The move will be keenly observed in Europe where the EU is just about to introduce stricter regulations for GMOs. The new regulations will mean that any foods containing more than 0.9 per cent GMO ingredients will have to declare the fact on the labelling.