Distinguishing animals fed GM or non-GM feed is not required. (Photo: Stock File)

GMO-free labelling system in the works

FRANCE
Tuesday, December 01, 2009, 16:30 (GMT + 9)

The French Government’s biotechnology advisory council has published an outline of rules for a voluntary GMO-free labelling system.

No European regulation on what constitutes GMO-free currently exists; products that contain more than 0.9 per cent genetically modified ingredients, however, must indicate their GM content. Nonetheless, this rule does not apply to meat and dairy products, and distinguishing between those that come from animals fed GM or non-GM feed is not required.

The Haut Conseil des Biotechnologies’ recommendations are expected to go into effect in the second half of 2010. These include a 0.1 per cent limit for genetically modified material in plant products and animal feed and a proposal for public authorities to establish a minimum distance between apiaries and fields used to grow GM crops.

Product labels would then tell apart GM foods from plant products that are “GMO-free,” animal products as “fed on GMO-free feed” or “derived from animals fed without GM feed” and honey as “biotech-free,” Food Production Daily reports.

Setting “technically achievable and socially acceptable” thresholds would benefit both food manufacturers and producers who avoid GM ingredients by making them stand out, while also informing consumers in case they wish to evade GMO-free products. The labelling project was launched to tackle the difficulties caused by the coexistence of GMO-free, conventional and organic production, the council’s report said.

“A number of French food companies (for example, companies producing high-quality free-range chickens) are likely to welcome such a regulation with a 0.1 per cent threshold, which would allow them to publicize their efforts towards biotech-free products, make it a marketing tool, and thus justifying the higher than average prices of their products,” the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service stated. 

French authorities have required a threshold in the past of 0.01 per cent for GM products, but this labelling was not technically possible.

The Haut Conseil des Biotechnologies also suggested an intermediate label for products in the “grey area” containing 0.1-0.9 per cent GM ingredients during a phase-in period of five years. The council has requested comments to help decide on the wording for such a label to avoid confusing consumers.

UK-based non-profit GM Freeze applauded the news earlier this month and is requesting the UK to follow France’s example.

Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland have already legislated for GM-free labels and Ireland intends to follow suit. A UK opinion survey conducted in 2006 found 87 per cent support for GM feed labelling.

Related articles:

- Feed prices could skyrocket: FEFAC
- Food labelling laws to undergo review

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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