MANDATORY LABELLING ONLY WAY FORWARD SAY NGOS: VOLUNTARY STANDARD MADE FOR
INDUSTRY, NOT CONSUMERS
September 8, 2003
From a press release
OTTAWA - Non-governmental organizations slammed the results of the latest
vote from the Canadian General Standards Board Committee on Voluntary
Labelling of Foods Obtained or Not Obtained Through Genetic Modification.
Ballot results released today reveal that the government-industry committee
has reached a consensus on a voluntary labelling standard for genetically
engineered foods.
"Voluntary labelling of GE frankenfood is a sham and is unlikely to lead to
one label on one GE product in one of Canada's grocery stores," said Patrick
Venditti of Greenpeace. "This is a bogus standard that has been manufactured
by industry and government to avoid a proper mandatory labelling regime for
GE foods."
As it is voluntary, no labels on GE foods will be required. The standard
also allows for products containing 5% GE material to be labelled non-GE. Of
the thirty-eight votes in favour of the standard, twenty represent industry,
while nine represent various levels of government. All consumer groups
involved in the process either voted against or withdrew from the process.
Polls have consistently shown that over 90% of Canadians want labels on GE
food.
"Enough is enough. Ottawa knows that Canadians want a mandatory labelling
policy and it is high time that this government did something about it,"
said Nadège Adam of the Council of Canadians. "Canadians want labels that
protect human health and the environment, not industry profits and
government bureaucrats."
"None of the GE crops grown in Canada have undergone chronic, long-term
testing," said Bradford Duplisea of the Canadian Health Coalition. "The
reality is that no one knows if GE foods are safe to eat. People who don't
want to eat these untested products should be able to avoid them, but
without mandatory labelling they can't." The Royal Society of Canada expert
panel agreed that GE foods were not regulated strongly and that the system
needed an overhaul.
The voluntary labelling committee is but one in a long list of government
manoeuvres aimed at avoiding a mandatory labelling policy. The government
organized the defeat of Bill C-287 - a private member's bill to establish
mandatory labelling - and promised to hold parliamentary hearings instead.
Shortly after starting however, the Health committee suspended hearings.
"Jean Chrétien should do the right thing before leaving office and give
Canadians their long awaited mandatory labelling standard," says Lucy
Sharratt from the Polaris Institute.