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Brussels, 14th November 2000
Euro Coop's position on the labelling of genetically modified foodstuffs
Euro Coop is the European Community of Consumer Co-operatives, whose members are the national organisations of consumer co-operatives in 12 of the 15 EU Member States and in Central and Eastern European countries. Since 1957, Euro Coop's major objectives have been to promote, defend and represent consumer interests at European level.
In the light of the forthcoming Commission's proposals on the labelling of genetically modified (GM) foodstuffs, and on GM-free labelling, Euro Coop wishes to make the following points.
- Labelling of GM-foodstuffs must be based on full traceability and Identity Preserved Supplies
Euro Coop has always strongly argued for a labelling of GM food based on full traceability and segregation. This means 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.
This is not currently the case under the existing European legislation on Novel Foods and Novel Ingredients, which says that only products in which protein or DNA from modified organisms can be detected must be labelled. Euro coop believes that this system undermines consumers' right to know what is in their plate and how it has been produced. Many products, which do contain GM ingredients, are presently not labelled.
- Euro Coop is opposed to GM-free labelling
Consumers want to know about the non-GM origin of food products. However, we do not believe that a GM-free labelling scheme is the appropriate means to provide this information. Moreover, Euro Coop believes that GM-free claims could mislead consumers and undermine their right to make informed choices.
- GM-free labelling will mislead consumers. What will they think about unlabelled products, which do not contain GM ingredients?
- GM-free labelling is not consistent with the existing legislation on GMO-labelling. What is the difference between a product which is not labelled as GMO and a GM-free product?
- Euro Coop is generally opposed to "negative" labelling. Consumers should be informed about what is contained in food, rather than what is not contained in the product.
- Euro Coop underlines once more that the only way to ensure that a product is GM free is through segregation and Identity Preservation Supplies. Consumers need to be reassured that the whole food production chain is controlled, and that their food has not been produced from GM-ingredients. Any GM-free labelling can only be based on the traceability of the ingredients from their origin to the final product. Only then will consumer confidence be ensured. Nevertheless, Euro Coop believes that it will be very difficult to prove throughout the whole food chain that a product is GM-free.
- Euro Coop strongly believes that it would be highly misleading for consumers 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 production chain.
Contact:
Aude L'hirondel, Food Officer
Tel: +32.2.285.00.70
Fax: +32.2.231.07.57
E-mail: alh@eurocoop.org
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