Farmers Weekly

Label Law Does Little To Spur GM Crop Progress

New EU regulations requiring all foods which contain genetically modified crop products to carry clear labels do not go far enough to speed the technology's arrival on European farms.

The rulings became part of UK law on Sept 1, replacing the voluntary labelling government had encouraged food processors and retailers to pursue until then.

But the new rules are over a year late, need fine tuning and will not answer all the critics, says Richard Bowles of food industry analysts Seymour Cooke.

"Labelling was nearly sorted out this time last year. Now we have a law, but it is not clear how it will be applied. I expect it will take take at least another year to be sorted out properly," he told an Agra Europe conference on biotechnology in the food industry this week.

"There is a danger that the EU will fall even further behind the US unless it gets its act together on labelling. As long as it is not clear and apparently restricting consumer choice, consumers will remain confused."

Meanwhile, farmers in the US and Canada where consumer concerns are not an issue continue to adopt the technology apace. Last year they produced almost 35 million tonnes of GM crops, including maize, Soya, oilseed rape, cotton and potatoes.

Even more is expected this year. The American Soybean Association reckons GM Soya output will rocket a further 30%.

Deciding the threshold for EU labelling is a key issue within the EU, Mr. Bowles explained. "Organic produce can carry an organic label even if it contains up to 5% non-organic material. Will the same apply to GM food labels?"

A MAFF spokesperson admits the industry will have to be patient while consultation on minimum standards take place.

The EU will also need to produce a list of products which come from GM crops, but which contain no modified material, noted Mr. Bowles. Cooking oil from modified oilseed crops, which is identical to oil from conventional crops at a molecular level, is a prime example, he said. "That is all going to take more time."

In the meantime, North American producers continue to benefit from faster GM approvals, typically taking 14 months. By contrast EU approval for cultivation takes 24 months and food and animal feed approval is taking over 27 months.

Each year's delay in in introducing GM crops to the EU knocks an estimated 2.8% off the revenues developing companies expect.

Mr. Bowles also called on more food processors and retailers to reassure the public. "Their reluctance to back GM products may be understandable, but it also infers to consumers that they are not safe."