EU: Compulsion Proposed

The European Commission has proposed the compulsory labelling of food made from genetically modified soya beans or maize. This follows on from the Commission’s adoption of the Regulation on labelling of such food, in line with Article 4 of Directive 79/112 EEC, which allows the Commission to introduce particular labelling requirements for specified foodstuffs. As currently framed, the proposal will require more products to be labelled than previously thought, as it requires, for example, the phrase “this product may contain genetically-modified soya or maize” in cases where there is the possibility – nor matter how remote – that the product may contain such genetically-modified substances. A DNA test will be used to determine the origin of the genetically modified organism in the foodstuff. The labelling will be required to be of a shape and size and type that the consumer cannot fail to spot it. The decision will now pass to the Standing Committee for Food; if there is a majority in favour the new rules will come into force on 1 February 1998, If there is no majority there, the Commission will seek a political decision from the Council of Ministers.