Labelling to lift ban on GM foods

GENETICALLY modified foods should be on supermarket shelves throughout Europe early next year after the European Parliament yesterday voted for new rules controlling them.

For the past four years almost all genetically modified foods have been banned in seven member countries, including Ireland.

Following yesterday’s decision by the parliament, EU ministers are expected to give GM foods the go-ahead when they meet later this month.

Health and Consumer Commissioner David Byrne warned that the EU will take court action against any country that does not lift the ban on GM foods.

He said: “We will now have the most rigorous pre-marketing assessment of GM food and feed in the world.

“This should give consumers greater confidence that the safety of GM products will be independently assessed by the European Food Safety Authority.

“Consumers will also have a clear choice of products to buy as GM food will now be clearly labelled. Europe will now have a comprehensive and transparent system of authorisation and labelling that can only enhance business and consumer confidence.”

The legislation establishes a clear system of labelling to let consumers know if food has been genetically modified or if its GM content exceeds 0.9% Compulsory labelling will apply to thousands of products which contain GM soya and GM maize-derived foods.

It also sets up a system to trace all ingredients back to their source and regulates animal food stuffs with GMOs.

However, it does not require labelling of products such as meat, milk or eggs from animals fed with genetically modified feed or treated with genetically modified medicines.

It will be up to member states to take action to prevent the cross-contamination of traditional crops by GM crops under regulations voted through yesterday.

Mr Byrne hopes that the US will now withdraw its complaint to the World Trade Organisation over the EU member states’ ban on GMOs.