Summary of Global Legislation on GE Foods

A Partial Review of Legislative Action by 33 Other
Governments to Identify and Halt Genetically Engineered
Food

(Following graciously provided by Robert Vint, 8 April 2001.)
---
Global GMO Food Legislation. Prepared by Greenpeace,
3 April 2001

Below is a partial review of legislative action being
taken by 33 other governments to identify and halt
genetically engineered food. As one of the world's
leading food exporters these policies are very relevant
to Thailand which has already lost markets because of
GE food contamination (see separate 'lost markets'
report)

You can click on any of these countries to go straight to their information:

Algeria, Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, Czech Republic,
All 15 countries of the European Union, Hong Kong,
Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Norway,
Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
Switzerland, Taiwan

Algeria

On December 24, 2000, Algeria introduced a draft
ministerial order "to prohibit the import, the distribution,
the commercialization and the utilization of genetically
modified plant material"11Times New Roman Declaration
of Minister of Agriculture, 24th Dec 2000- Democratic
Peoples Republic of AlgeriaArial

Australia and New Zealand

The Australian New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
is responsible for scrutinizing new GE foods intended for
the market. Australia and New Zealand have adopted a
labeling regime for genetically modified foods that will
come into force in July 2001.22 USDA FAS GAIN
Report #AS9026 6/4/1999 Australia and genetically
modified Organisms 1999

Brazil

In 1998 Greenpeace won an injunction saying that no
genetically engineered Roundup Ready (RR) soya may
enter the country before there are proper labeling rules
in place. In August 1999 a federal judge of the Court of
Brasilia upheld this decision and decided in favor of
another Greenpeace injunction against the planting of
RR soya. The need for labeling rules was reconfirmed
by the Federal Court of Brasilia in June 2000 but at this
time there are still no such rules implemented.

Czech Republic

Labeling of GE foods will be required from 2002.
Otherwise Czech law is being enacted to harmonize
with EU regulations covering GE food.33 USDA GAIN
report #EZ0020 12/29/2000
"Czech republic Biotechnology new law comes into Force
January 1, 2001)

All 15 countries of the European Union

The EU Novel Food regulation regulates the marketing
and labelling of products which are genetically
engineered or derived from GE organisms. An
additional labelling regulation applies to Roundup Ready
soya and Syngenta Bt maize requiring labelling of food
products in which the DNA or the new protein of GE-
crops is detectable. In April 2000 additives and aromas
were added to the labelling regulation if DNA is
detectable in the end product. 44 Commission regulation
50/2000 of 10 January 2000 on the labelling of foodstuffs
and food ingredients containing additives and flavourings
that have been genetically modified or have been
produced from genetically modified organisms. Regulations
for GE animal feed and products from animals which were
fed on GE feed is planned and under discussion.


Although some GMOs such as Roundup Ready Soya,
Aventis rapeseed oil and Syngenta Bt maize have
clearance for use in food products. There is currently a
defacto moratorium on any new GE product approvals
while EU ministers tighten regulations. Portugal,
Luxembourg, Austria and Germany have further banned
Syngenta Bt maize while France and Greece have
banned Aventis rapeseed. The EU is planning to
improve labeling and make traceability of products
mandatory.

Hong Kong

In January 2000 the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
supported a motion demanding mandatory labelling of
GE products with a 39 out of 47 majority. Now the
Government has set up a task force to draft the details
of a comprehensive labelling system. The proposal is
expected to be reviewed by the Legislative Council later
this year. 55 Policy Address 2000 (October 2000) HK:
government printer.

South China Morning Post (1 April 2000) "GM Food
Labelling Policies Imminent"Public consulations in this
regard are now being undertaken.

Israel

Israel's ministry of health is preparing regulations for the
labeling of GMO's. They will require that food be labeled
if it contains more than 1% of GMO components, and
otherwise will be similar to the EU regulations
concerning GMOs.66 Israel to adopt GMO labeling
http://www.oryza.com/global/genetic/index.shtml

Japan

The Government of Japan cpreviously operated a
voluntary safety review for genetically engineered
products. This review became mandatory on April 1
2001. Japan also adopted mandatory labeling for
certain GE products at the same time where they
consitute more than 5% of the final product.77 USDA
GAIN report #JA0128 11/8/2000 "Agricultural
biotechnology in Japan 2000" Some GE
ingredients remain banned including Starlink corn.

Republic of Korea

The Korean government will begin requiring mandatory
labeling for GE foods from 1st March with strict
enforcement from 1st September 2001. Those selling
food are expected to show certification documents as to
the GE status of their products. Anyone found to be
falsely labeling would face a 3-year jail sentence or 30
million won fine. Those who fail to label will face a 10
million won fine. 88 USDA GAIN report #KS1009
3/2/2001 "Republic of Korea Biotechnology Enforcement
of Biotech labelling for unprocessed commodities 2001"

Mexico

In March 2000 the upper house of Mexico's Senate
unanimously approved a health bill that would require
GE foodstuffs to be labeled. Foods containing GE
ingredients would need to carry labels reading "Food
made with genetically modified products." The law is
awaiting approval by the Chamber of Deputies. 99
Reuters (31 March 2000) Mexican Senate passes
bill on genetic food labels.

Norway

Norway is regarded as having some of the strictest GE
rules worldwide. The government has banned the import
of several GE crops and products, which contain
antibiotic resistance genes. The government also
requires labeling of GE foods.

Paraguay

The use of GMO's in Paraguay's agricultural sector is
banned in 2000/2001 specifically soya beans. 110 USDA
GAIN report #PA0007 6/23/2000 "Paraguay Biotechnology
- Paraguay Renews GMO Planting restrictions"0

Philippines

There are a number of bills in the Philippine Senate and
Congress concerning the labeling of GE crops. The new
President and Secretary of Agriculture have made GE
labeling a government priority and are soon expected to
publish details of GE labeling requirements.

Poland

The Polish government announced in April 2000 that all
genetically modified food products would have to be
labeled. The Ministry of Environmental Protection
decided that the information should be on the package
in easy-to-read captions in contrasting colors. 111 Polish
News Bulletin (25 April 2000) New Regulations for
Genetically Modified Foods. p. 19.1

Russia

Russia instituted a GE consumer product labeling law
on July 1st 2000. Food and medical products derived
from GE sources that contain GE proteins must be
labeled. Information on GE sources must also be
included in shipping documents.112 USDA GAIN report
#RS9057 11/24/1999 "Russian federation Food and
Agricultural Import regulations and standards -
Russian biotech labelling law - 19992

Saudi Arabia

The government has banned animal products that are
made from Genetically Engineered organisms and has
also implemented very strict labeling requirements for
GE foods to come into force December 2001. GE
foods must be marked with a triangle and a warning in
both Arabic and English. GE foods entering the country
must also be accompanied by a health certificate. 113
USDA GAIN report #SA0021 12/18/2000

"Saudi Arabia Biotechnolgy - Saudi Arabia Bans Imports
of GMO Animal Products, revises GMO labelling & Extends
Grace period" 3

Switzerland

Food products, including additives, and animal feed
stuffs which are or contain genetically altered matter
have to be labeled as 'genetically modified organism' or
'contain genetically modified organism'. As of January
2000, Switzerland is the first country where drugs
containing GMOs must be labeled.114 Swiss Federal
Health Office (14 June 2000) Deklarationslimite für
gentechnisch veränderte Lebensmittel. Press release.
SR 916.307 Verordnung über die Produktion und
das Inverkehrbringen von Futtermitteln. Art. 23
Deklaration gentechnisch veränderter Futtermittel.4

Taiwan

The Taiwanese government presented an outline of new
labeling regulations on November 29 2000. Under the
proposal mandatory labeling will be established for all
GE food products. The regulation will first apply to
maize and soybeans and later on also to other
agricultural products. 115 USDA FAS attaché report
- Dec 4 2000 "Taiwan Bioengineered Food Labeling
Proposal" 5
________________________________________________________________________

1Declaration of Minister of Agriculture, 24th Dec 2000-
Democratic Peoples Republic of Algeria

2USDA FAS GAIN Report #AS9026 6/4/1999
Australia and genetically modified Organisms 1999

3 USDA GAIN report #EZ0020 12/29/2000 "Czech
republic Biotechnology new law comes into Force
January 1, 2001)

4 Commission regulation 50/2000 of 10 January 2000
on the labelling of foodstuffs and food ingredients
containing additives and flavourings that have been
genetically modified or have been produced from
genetically modified organisms.

5 Policy Address 2000 (October 2000) HK: government
printer.

South China Morning Post (1 April 2000) "GM Food
Labelling Policies Imminent"

6 Israel to adopt GMO labeling
http://www.oryza.com/global/genetic/index.shtml

7 USDA GAIN report #JA0128 11/8/2000 "Agricultural
biotechnology in Japan 2000"

8 USDA GAIN report #KS1009 3/2/2001 "Republic of
Korea Biotechnology Enforcement of Biotech labelling
for unprocessed commodities 2001"

9 Reuters (31 March 2000) Mexican Senate passes bill
on genetic food labels.

10 USDA GAIN report #PA0007 6/23/2000 "Paraguay
Biotechnology - Paraguay Renews GMO Planting
restrictions"

11 Polish News Bulletin (25 April 2000) New Regulations
for Genetically Modified Foods. p. 19.

12 USDA GAIN report #RS9057 11/24/1999 "Russian
federation Food and Agricultural Import regulations and
standards - Russian biotech labelling law - 1999

13 USDA GAIN report #SA0021 12/18/2000

"Saudi Arabia Biotechnolgy - Saudi Arabia Bans
Imports of GMO Animal Products, revises GMO labelling
& Extends Grace period"

14 Swiss Federal Health Office (14 June 2000)
Deklarationslimite für gentechnisch veränderte
Lebensmittel. Press release. SR 916.307 Verordnung
über die Produktion und

das Inverkehrbringen von Futtermitteln. Art. 23
Deklaration gentechnisch veränderter Futtermittel.

15 USDA FAS attaché report - Dec 4
2000 "Taiwan Bioengineered Food Labeling
Proposal"