Action Briefing Jun 2003 - Jul 2003
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

What was that about a public debate . . ?

At the same time that it is preparing to consult the British people on the future of genetic modification, the Government is asking UK Members of the European Parliament to vote against the comprehensive labelling of food containing traces of genetically modified (GM) materials.

In a plenary from 1-3 July 2003 MEPs will vote on new European legislation to strengthen the labelling of food containing GM-derived ingredients. Currently, food containing at least one per cent of GM DNA must be labelled. The new proposals would strengthen the legislation by reducing the GM labelling threshold to 0.5 per cent (though Friends of the Earth has been calling for the limit to be set at the lowest detectable level, currently 0.1 per cent); increasing the scope of the legislation to include GM derivatives which don’t contain DNA such as oil and lecithin; and extending the legislation to cover animal feed.

However, the Government is urging MEPs to weaken the proposals by voting to maintain the current GM threshold of 1 per cent. The Food Standards Agency and Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) claim thresholds below 1 per cent are unenforceable. But the Government’s own Central Science Laboratory has confirmed that a limit of detection of 0.1 per cent is verifiable. The major supermarkets are already working to a 0.1 per cent threshold.

EU citizens strongly support comprehensive labelling and strong EU legislation to maintain choice for consumers. A Eurobarometer opinion poll published by the European Commission in December 2001 showed that 94.6 per cent of European citizens want the right to choose and 70.9 per cent simply do not want GM food.

You can write to your MEP asking for assurance that consumer choice will be upheld. Contact details for MEPs can be found on our letters page

James Botham