GM labelling: more work required

The UK Food Standards Agency last week held its first open board meeting in the heart European bureaucracy, Brussels. On the agenda? An action plan on food labelling, GM labelling, and consumer involvement in policy making.

On the topic of food labelling, at a previous meeting in September 2000, the FSA's board had agreed on an 18-point action plan on food labelling. Its two key themes were the development of a transparent labelling regime based on consumers' priorities and the promotion of a good labelling practice. The board had also identified four priority areas for action: label clarity, use of terms such as 'fresh' and 'pure', nutritional labelling and promotion of foods to children.

The Brussels board meeting held on 14 November considered the progress, and, according to the FSA, welcomed the recent EU draft proposals on EU labelling legislation. The board learnt that significant steps had also been made towards improved ingredient labelling and tighter statutory controls on health related claims had been made. In addition the publication of an FSA guidance on use of terms such as 'fresh', 'natural,' and 'pure', clear labelling, and country of origin declarations.

According to the FSA, the promotion of foods to children will be discussed in late 2003, on the basis of research currently underway. This will be good news for the UK Food Commission, long critical of the marketing of food products towards kids.

Turning to the controversial issue of GM labelling, the FSA board reviewed its position on the labelling of genetically modified food and feeds in light of developments in European Commission working group meetings and the outcome of a FSA stakeholder meeting held on 23 September 2002.

In September 2001, the FSA's board considered proposals on the traceability and labelling of GMOs and GM food and feed published by the European Commission on 25 July 2001.

The board concluded then that the proposals would not ensure consumers would have real choices about GM and meaningful information on the extent to which GM technology is used in food production.

The board meeting in Brussels on 14 November 2002 claimed that since it had reached its initial position on GM labelling in September 2001, there had been no further clarification from the Commission as to how its proposals would work in practice. In addition, it reaffirmed its earlier decision on the labelling of GM derivatives, given the 'continuing doubts over the ability of the proposal to deliver a reliable and effective information system for consumers.'​ The board agreed that the concept of GM free labelling should be preserved, while stressing that it would require further development.