Euro ministers call for watered-down GM label plan

19 May 1998

Euro ministers call for watered-down GM label plan

EUROPEAN UNION (EU) ministers called on the European Commission to water down a controversial proposal on the labelling of genetically modified (GM) soya and maize.

A majority of ministers said they only wanted compulsory labelling for foods that “definitely” contained GM organisms. The ministers were unhappy with the Commissions plan to label foods that “may contain” such organisms.

The Commission said it would consider the request to reassess the proposals tomorrow or next week.

However, the Commission is able to overrule member states on this issue unless there is unanimous opposition to the original proposal. The move would alienate countries which would be unlikely to enforce the proposals rigorously.

• Financial Times 19/05/98 page 7