Labelling Requirements for GMOs in Food and Feed 

EU Press Release 28nov02

Details of the draft law

Labelling

The draft law will add to the current rules the labelling of:

• All foods produced from GMOs irrespective of whether there is DNA or protein of GM origin in the final product
• All genetically modified feed
  
  GM-food
  
  Already today, retailers have to label a food consisting of or containing GMOs. This also includes food produced from GMOs if traces of DNA or protein from the genetic modification is detectable in the final product (such as flour produced from genetically modified maize (see Annex 1). However, the labelling provisions do not cover some foods or food ingredients, such as highly refined soya or maize oil produced from GM-soya or GM-maize. The effect of today's agreement is to extend the current labelling requirements to also cover such food (soya or maize oil produced from GM-soya or GM-maize) and food ingredients produced from GMOs (biscuits with maize oil produced from GM-maize) and to allow consumers to exercise their freedom of choice. The label has to indicate "This product contains genetically modified organisms" or "... produced from genetically modified (name of organism)".
  
  GM-feed
  
  The agreement also introduces for the first time strict labelling requirements of GM-feed along the same principle as for GM food. Currently no labelling requirements are in place for feed produced from GMOs. The proposal will require labelling of, for example, GM-soy meal and any compound feed that includes in its composition the GM-soya meal. It will also require labelling of corn gluten feed produced from GM maize.
  
  Threshold for labelling
  
  Under current legislation the presence of GM material in conventional food does not have to be labelled if it is below 1% and if it can be shown to be adventitious and technically unavoidable. The Council agreed today on a threshold of no higher than 0,9%.

Presence of minute traces of GMOs in conventional food and feed

Minute traces of GMOs in conventional food and feed could arise during cultivation, harvest, transport and processing. Whether we like it or not this has become a reality. This is something that is not particular to GMOs. In the production of food, feed and seed, it is practically impossible to achieve products that are 100% pure.

With this background, the EU's objective is to ensure legal certainty and establish certain thresholds above which conventional food and feed have to be labelled as consisting of or containing or being produced from a GMO.

GMOs scientifically assessed in the EU to be safe

Under current legislation, there is no tolerance threshold for the adventitious presence of GM material in food or feed which has not been authorised. The Commission had proposed a 1% threshold for the adventitious or technically unavoidable presence of such GM material, provided that the GM material has received a favourable EU scientific risk assessment and that the operator can demonstrate that its presence was technically unavoidable. Above this threshold the product will not be allowed on the market.

The Council decided today to set the threshold at 0,5% and to limit its application to 3 years. The Commission would however review the operation of this clause and make a proposal for its extension if appropriate.

Annex 1

Labelling of GM-Food and GM-Feed Examples (1)

									  Labelling	Labelling
									  Required 	Required
GMO-type 				EXAMPLE 			  at present 	in future

GM plant 				Chicory(2) 			  Yes 		Yes 

GM seed 				Maize seeds 			  Yes 		Yes 

GM food 				Maize, Soybean sprouts, Tomato    Yes 		Yes 

Food 					Maize flour (3) 		  Yes 		Yes 

Produced 				Highly refined maize oil,  	  No 		Yes 

					soybean oil, rape seed oil (4)
From GMOs 				Glucose syrup produced from 	  No 		Yes 
					maize starch \* MERGEFORMAT 4

Food from animals fed on GM feed	Eggs, meat, milk 		  No 		No 

Food produced with the  		bakery products produced 	  No 		No 
help of a GM enzyme			with the help of amylase

Food additive/flavouring produced 	Highly filtered lecithin 	  No 		Yes
from GMOs 				extracted from GM soybeans 
					used in chocolate \* 
					MERGEFORMAT 4

GM Feed 				Maize(5) 			  Yes 		Yes 

Feed produced from a GMO 		Corn gluten feed, Soybean meal 	  No 		Yes 

Feed additive produced from a GMO 	Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 	  No 		Yes


(1) The examples include foods which have not been authorised for marketing in the EU.
(2) One chicory has been approved for breeding purposes under Directive 90/220/EC, but not for food use
(3) DNA or protein of GM origin detectable in the final product.
(4) DNA or protein of GM origin not detectable in the final product.
(5) The current labelling rules entered into force in 1997, 
    and do not include four GMOs approved prior to that date.

source: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1770|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display= 30nov02