Better labelling for GMO products demanded

30 April 1998

Better labelling for GMO products demanded

CONSUMER umbrella body BEUC has called for compulsory labelling where food manufacturers are aware that genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) exist in their products.

A proposed European Commission directive for labelling products with modified soya and maize will allow most food to be sold without labelling, BEUC claims.

It argues that under the proposed system, manufacturers will only have to state whether their products contain GMOs if detected by scientific analysis. BEUC says in most cases manufacturers could modify their processing to avoid the need for labelling.

It pressed European consumers, food manufactures and retailers to do more to demand non-genetically modified supplies.

• Financial Times 30/04/98 page 5