GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) in food and feed at the Council meeting (Agriculture and Fisheries) on 23 and 24 September

Copenhagen, 19 Sep 2002

In July 2001, the EU Commission put forward a proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on genetically modified food and feed ( COM(2001) 425 final).

The proposal contains provisions governing approval procedures and labelling of genetically modified food and feed. The European Parliament strongly supports the Commission proposal, and the Danish EU Presidency is endeavour to reach a common position on the issue as soon as possible.

At the coming meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 24 and 25 September, the Danish EU Presidency will deliver a progress report with the work on the proposal.

The contents of the proposal:

According to the proposal, the EU is to introduce rules for the use and labelling of feed based on genetically modified organisms.

These rules correspond to those applying to GMO food. This will mean requirement for approval prior to marketing and demand for labelling of feed produced on the basis of GMOs. There are also proposals for amendment of the current rules on GMO based food, which are also to apply to feed.

The rules on labelling of food will be extended so as to apply to vegetable products produced on the basis of GMOs, which are to be labelled regardless of whether or not genetic material or protein deriving from genetic modification may be found in the product. The EU will introduce a de minimis rule that permits an unintended presence of non-approved GMOs in the marketed product of up to 1 per cent, provided that such GMOs have been subject to scientific health and safety assessment in the EU. The final items to be considered are the centralisation of the approval procedure for new GMOs and a term limit to the validity of approvals of ten years.

Concurrently with the consideration by the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, the Environment Ministers will consider the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed produced on the basis of genetically modified organisms.

The adoption of the two proposals is the prerequisite for lifting the moratorium. The declaration not to issue new authorisations for growing and marketing of GMO, supported by Denmark, together with Greece, France, Italy, Austria and Luxembourg, in connection with the adoption of the new release directive in March 2001, sprang from the wish to secure the adoption of an effective traceability system to ensure reliable labelling of GMOs. The declaration follows up on a similar declaration from June 1999.

Contact information
Head of Division Tage Siboni, phone no.: +45 33 92 21 82, tsi@fvm.dk

Danish Presidency Website http://www.eu2002.dk/main/