May 28, 2004
Australian and New Zealand GM food labelling
standard one of the most comprehensive in the world
A review of
labelling of genetically modified (GM) food, conducted by
Food Standards
Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), has found that Australia and
New Zealand have one of the most comprehensive labelling regimes
for GM food in the world.
The final
report of the Review of Labelling of Genetically Modified
Food ,commissioned by the Australian and New Zealand
Food Regulation Ministerial Council, is now publicly available.
Three years
ago Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for food
agreed to mandatory labelling for GM foods. These requirements
came into force in both countries in December 2001. They require
any food, food ingredient or processing aid produced using gene
technology and containing novel DNA and/or novel protein or
having altered characteristics to be labelled as ‘genetically
modified’.
As
Australia and New Zealand were among the first countries in the
world to introduce GM labelling, in August 2003, Ministers
requested that FSANZ conduct a review to compare our GM
labelling requirements with international practice.
In
Australia and New Zealand all foods produced using gene
technology must be safety assessed by FSANZ before they can be
sold. The labelling requirements for GM food are not about
safety; they are designed to enable consumers to make informed
choices about what foods they eat.
The review
found:
-
Although
Australian and New Zealand were among the first countries in
the world to adopt mandatory GM food labelling, these
requirements remain among the most comprehensive, both in
scope and breadth of capture, of any country in the world.
-
In Australia
and New Zealand the majority of consumers welcome mandatory
labelling of GM food so that they can make informed purchasing
decisions. Consumers in other countries also hold these views.
-
Two separate
compliance surveys conducted by enforcement authorities in
Australia and New Zealand and finalised in 2003 found a high
level of industry compliance with the labelling requirements.
Of the 168 products tested, all but one was considered to be
compliant with labelling requirements. The non-compliant
product was identified in the New Zealand survey and
enforcement action was initiated with the product being
recalled and the labelling rectified.
-
The surveys
demonstrate that the labelling requirements can be effectively
enforced using strategies which examine compliance plans and
documentation held by manufacturers, and supplemented by
product testing where appropriate.
-
International regulations for the labelling of GM foods vary
markedly from country to country. For example, the EU permits
accidental contamination of foods with small amounts of
unapproved GM commodities in the food supply while Australia
and New Zealand does not permit any unapproved GM
commodities for sale or use in the food supply.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is the
report of the Review of Labelling of Genetically Modified (GM)
Foods. The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC)
endorsed the Standard for the labelling of GM food in November
2000 and it was subsequently gazetted in December 2000. At that
time Ministers agreed to a 12 month transition, until December
2001, for the new Standard to come into effect. In addition
there was a 12 month stock-in-trade provision allowing
manufacturers 12 months to sell through stock that had been
manufactured prior to the labelling regime coming into effect in
December 2001.
In
Australia and New Zealand the mandatory labelling of GM foods is
a requirement of Standard 1.5.2. When the Standard was agreed
to, Australia and New Zealand were among the first countries to
adopt a mandatory labelling regime. Consequently, Ministers
requested a review be conducted within three years of the date
of gazettal of the Standard to consider developments in the
regulation of GM foods internationally.
In August
2003, the (now) Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation
Ministerial Council (ANZFRMC) agreed to five terms of reference
for the review, including stakeholder consultation
requirements. Consultation for the review resulted in the
receipt of 472 submissions from Australia and New Zealand: 432
from individuals; 5 from government; 19 from industry; 5 from
public health professionals; and 11 from other
organisations. Submissions from individuals accounted for
approximately 92% of the total submissions received.
The terms
of reference for the review are:
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Food
Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) will conduct the
review and prepare a report for ANZFRMC, governed by the
following terms of reference.
1.
Prepare a review of GM food labelling legislation or
regulation internationally (proposed and existing), with
particular focus on the EU, USA, Canada and APEC countries.
2.
Compare the current Australian/New Zealand
requirements for GM food labelling with the requirements of
countries listed in (1).
3.
Examine consumer attitudes in relation to the
labelling and acceptance of GM foods, where they have been
publicly reported in Australia/New Zealand and those
countries listed in (1).
4.
Summarise developments in the Codex Alimentarius in
respect of a standard for the labelling of GM food.
5.
Prepare in association with New Zealand Food Safety
Authority and Australian State and Territory authorities a
summary of implementation of the GM food labelling standard
in Australia and New Zealand and report on compliance and
enforcement with the Standard to date. |
The complete
report in PDF format is at:
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/ACF19B0.pdf
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