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Brussels, 27 June 2002
Letter sent to MEPs on GM feed and food, traceability and labelling.
Vote in plenary session 03-07-2002
Dear Sir/Madam,
On 3 July 2002, you will vote on two reports on genetically modified (GM) feed and food, traceability and labelling. Euro Coop, the European Association of Consumer Co-operatives strongly recommends that you follow the position adopted by the Environment Committee on 4 June 2002, which voted in favour of a GM labelling scheme based on full traceability without limiting the latter to the detectability of DNA in the final product.
Euro Coop has always taken the view that the existing EU legislation on GM labelling does not allow consumers to make informed choices. We believe that the Trakatellis and Scheele reports - as adopted by the Environment Committee - represent an important step towards improving the current situation. We are therefore very concerned by any attempts to undermine the two reports, which would prevent the full implementation of consumers' right to know and right to choose.
We therefore urge you to base your vote on the following recommendations:
- Consumer choice requires a labelling system based on full traceability and segregation
Euro Coop has always taken the view that GM labelling must be based on full traceability and segregation. Currently, highly processed food, such as rapeseed oil, cannot be labelled as a GM product even if it has been produced from GM rapeseed. Only products in which protein or DNA from modified organisms can be detected must be labelled. This system clearly does not guarantee consumer choice.
Euro Coop members, the consumer co-operatives, have been using traceability for many years, and they have proved that it is possible to ensure that the products they sell are not genetically modified. Moreover, it has not led to an increase of food prices. We therefore disagree with those theories arguing that traceability is not feasible and is too costly, and that it should therefore be limited to products where DNA is detectable.
We therefore urge you to defend a labelling system based on full traceability and Identity Preserved Supplies.
- Traceability and labelling should apply to GM derivatives
On 4 June 2002, the Environment Committee rejected all amendments aiming at limiting the scope of the proposal for a Regulation on traceability and labelling by excluding GM feed and food produced from GMOs. Euro Coop is pleased to see that its recommendations have been followed. We have always argued that all products produced with GM ingredients must be labelled as containing GMOs, even if the final product is similar to a product produced without GMOs, or if no trace of GM material can be detected in the final product. We therefore invite you to follow the approach taken by the Environment Committee on this specific issue.
- Consumers should not find unauthorised GMOs in their food
Consumer co-operatives are strongly opposed to the European Commission's proposals for a 1% tolerance level for non-authorised GMOs. Indeed we find the Commission's proposals slef-contradicting: it is not possible on the one hand, to strengthening the authorisation process for GMOs, while on the other hand, accepting that non-authorised GMOs are present in foodstuffs without informing consumers. We hope that the European Parliament will confirm the vote of the Environment Committee on this key issue as it is key to ensuring consumers' safety and regaining their confidence.
- Labelling must be precise and clear
Euro Coop has always been opposed to a "GM-Free" labelling scheme proposed by some Members of the European Parliament. Such a label is often proposed as an alternative to a labelling system based on traceability and segregation. However, such an alternative would deeply undermine consumers' right to make informed choices. If adopted, this proposal would simply allow food producers to label as "GM-free" any food product in which GMOs cannot be detected. Our organisation has always claimed that it would be highly misleading to label a product as GM free if this just means that there is no GM material in the final product, but not that ingredients or derivatives could have been used all along the food production chain. Moreover, the failure of voluntary GM-free labelling schemes in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands has proven the need for segregation and identity preserved supplies.
Finally, Euro Coop believes, like the Environment Committee, that the label should indicate "genetically modified" or "produced from genetically modified organisms", but considers that adding "but not containing a GMO" would mislead consumers. We therefore welcome the simplification of the label adopted by the Environment Committee.
I hope you will find these recommendations useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any questions or would like further information on the Euro Coop position.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Aude L'hirondel
Food Policy Officer
e-mail: alhirondel@eurocoop.org
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