Genetically Engineered Food: Consumers still kept in the dark

A wide coalition of international and Canadian groups including a former federal environment minister have joined forces to call on the Canadian government to give consumers mandatory labelling and stop blocking an international agreement on the labelling of Genetically Engineering (GE) foods. These calls come at a crucial time when a UN meeting (CODEX Alimentarius) gathers this week in Ottawa to discuss establishing an international standard for GE labelling. Codex Alimentarius is the international body that oversees food labelling.

The coalition includes Greenpeace, Consumers International, Option-consommateurs, Union des consommateurs, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network and Charles Caccia, a former federal environment minister. Canada and the United States have long been prime culprits in blocking global agreement on letting consumers know what they are eating.

‘In North America, consumers in the US and Canada have to play a guessing game. Even if over 40 countries have GE labelling rules in place, it is essential that we have an internationally agreed labelling regime that protects consumers everywhere. By continuing blocking progress, Canada is undermining a fundamental right of consumers to know what they are eating’, said Michael Hansen from Consumers International - an umbrella organization for Consumers associations worldwide.

‘The right to know what we eat is fundamental, and it’s baffling why the federal government still refuses to acknowledge it? Instead, Canadian consumers are stuck with voluntary labelling adopted three years ago by Ottawa, which has failed to produce a single label ‘with GE’ said Nalini Vaddapalli, of Option consommateurs.

For Charles Tanguay, of Union des consommateurs: ‘it is totally inacceptable that the federal government still refuses to implement mandatory labels as Europe has done. In keeping Canada behind the pack, the Conservative government is only increasing public concerns around GE food. What is the government hiding from the public? ‘When companies voluntarily choose not to label, it’s time for mandatory rules.’

“As Ottawa continues to be irresponsible, nothing stops provinces from establishing their own mandatory labelling rules. By going ahead with GE mandatory labelling, provinces like Quebec and British Columbia would show leadership that Ottawa has not seen yet’, said Eric Darier from Greenpeace.

Charles Caccia said: `If my private member´s Bill (C-287) had been adopted in 2001, Canadians would have mandatory labeling now.  This issue is not going to go away and the government should give consumers the right to know.  Why are Canadian consumers deprived of their right to know if food contains or not GMOs (genetically modified organisms)?”

Lucy Sharratt from the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network said: ‘it is outrageous that the Harper government continues to block effort to have international labelling standard across the world.  Once again, Canada´s reputation abroad is badly damaged.’

‘When asked, a majority of American consumers (50%) are opposed to GE food (compared to 25% that approved)(1).  I am sure that if Canada could put in place mandatory labelling of GE food, it would have positive impact in the US.  Americans will ask: if Canada and over 40 other countries can have mandatory labelling, why can´t the US do the same ?” said Philip Bereano from a 49th Parallel, a US-Canadian NGO.

Notes
(1) PEW Initiative on Food Biotechnology (Nov 2005) p. 2  http://pewagbiotech.org/research/2005update/