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Mandatory Labels for GE Foods in Australia and New Zealand

This Year Mandatory GM labelling approved in Australia by a Feedstuffs Staff Editor. The health ministers comprising the Australia New Zealand Food Standards (ANZFSC) approved July 28 a resolution requiring strict mandatory-labelling requirements for genetically modified (GM) foods. As adopted, the resolution:

Requires labelling of food and food ingredients where novel DNA and/or protein is present in the final food, and requires labelling of food and food ingredients where the food has altered characteristics. Exempted from these requirements include:

• Highly refined food where the effect of the refining process is to remove novel DNA and/or protein;
• Processing aids and food additives except those where novel DNA and/or protein is present in the final food;
• Flavours that are present in a concentration less than or equal to 0.1% in the final food, and food prepared at the point of sale.

The standard allows an ingredient to contain up to 1% of unintended presence of GM product. ANZFSC also has endorsed the principle of due diligence and verifiable documentation (such as an audit trial) or testing for compliance purposes. It also noted that the protocol for compliance would elaborate on those processes used to produce highly refined food, which means manufacturers not have to test individual batches of foods produced using such recognized processes. The council said it would keep under review developments in GM food labelling. The revised standard is to take effect 12 months from time of publication and be reviewed and a report prepared for the council on its implementation three years from that date. Publication of the resolution is expected in September, which would put the standard into effect by September 2001.

The New Zealand Grocery Marketers Assn. has been generally supportive of the decision, noting it was practical, meaningful to consumers and will minimize associated extra costs. At the same time, the group has noted possible concerns with trade from the U.S., the potential implication that GM food is unsafe and the imposition of more onerous compliance provisions than apply elsewhere. The group also has said it believes few products currently on the shelf would have to be labelled.

Under the resolution, U.S. and other nations' food exports to the Australian and New Zealand markets would need to be labelled consistent with the standard.

Reference

Feedstuffs (magazine) Aug 7, 2000

Partial List of GE Companies and Products

This information on products which are genetically engineered, foods which may be genetically engineered, and companies involved in genetic engineering was compiled by Irene Archer from information found on the genetic engineering mailing list and other sources. Some of the information may apply to Canada and some to the US or both. If you live in a country that may receive imports from the U.S. and Canada, you should avoid non-organic foods as a safety precaution. In our own country or if another country is exporting to our country they may be doing genetic engineering. Eat only organic food if possible. Even if you buy seeds to grow your own food, buy only organic seeds.

The following information in this category is not about genetic engineering but is for Religious groups and Vegetarians to note:

A & D vitamins can contain emulsifiers from Pork

Apple juice, which is clarified, contains gelatine

Beta Carotene contain lard or gelatine in processing

D3 has sheep lanolin used in the process

Lcysteine is made from Human Hair

Lactose may contain pork rennin or whey in processing

Companies Involved in Genetic Engineering

Agritope, Asgrow, Calgene, Ciba-Geigy, DeKal, DNA Plant Tech. Dupont Ecogen Hoechst/AgrEvo, Monsanto, Mycogen, Northrup King, Novartis, Petro, Seed Plant Genetic Systems, Research Seeds Rhone, Merieux Rhone, Poulenc, Sandoz, Zeneca, Cornell University is involved, Hawaii University is involved.

BRAND NAME PRODUCTS, WHICH MAY BE (OR ARE) GENETICALLY ENGINEERED OR CONTAIN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

BT corn, Coca Cola, Fleishmanns margarine, Fritos, Green Giant Harvest Burgers, Karo Corn Syrup, Kraft Salad Dressings, McDonalds French Fries, Nestle Crunch, Quaker Oats corn meal, Roundup Ready Soybeans, Similac Infant Formula, Fritos (corn), Nestle chocolates (soy), Nutrasweet (Aspartame), Fleishmann's margarine (soy), Land O Lakes butter (rBGH), Cabot Creamery Butter (rBGH),

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