EuroCommerce response to the EP vote on GMOs labelling, traceability and co-existence

Brussels, 04 Jul 2003

EuroCommerce, the EU trade representation of the Retail, Wholesale and International Trade, welcomes the outcome of the EP vote on 2 July on the draft Regulations on Genetically Modified (GM) Traceability and Labelling and GM Food and Feed. This vote will allow for a traceability system for GM food and feed products all along the food and feed chain and will enable consumers to make an informed choice on GM products.

EuroCommerce is pleased with the adoption of a 0.9% threshold for labelling purpose that will leave consumers with the choice to buy products that are not all "GM labelled", or if not GM labelled, that are not more expensive due to a very low threshold for adventitious contamination.

The rules that will have to be put in place for the traceability of GM food and feed products will introduce enhanced transparency on the market and offer legal certainty to the operators.

EuroCommerce also welcomes the introduction of provisions on co-existence, since they are a prerequisite to limit the adventitious contamination of conventional products by GMOs. EuroCommerce nevertheless regrets that Member States are not legally obliged by these provisions and strongly encourages Member States to use this new possibility they are granted to establish clear and accurate rules on co-existence strictly based on the EU guidelines.

EuroCommerce
http://www.eurocommerce.be/upload/6/1300 617212210897957417448329131298534087f175 6v1.doc