EC and ‘green’ groups on collision course over food labelling issue

THE European Commission has proposed that foods labelled as organic can contain up to 0.9% of Genetically Modified material acquired through accidental or unavoidable contamination.

“Green” groups have strongly rejected the proposal, which includes a clause that producers knowingly using GM material would not be allowed the label.

Biotech experts believe that defining organic as GMO free is impossible, because scientists cannot detect the presence of GM material below levels of 0.1%.