"The United States has kept biotech labeling bottled up in the [Codex committee] for more than a decade. This year the U.S. argued that the committee should abandon work on the issue if it cannot make progress."!!! (item 1)

"it was incredible that Australia, which already has mandatory labelling requirements for GM food, had spoken out against Codex guidelines" (item 2)

1.Codex committee defers decision on biotech labeling.
2.Aussies accused of double standards for sake of US
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1.Codex committee defers decision on biotech labeling
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Pesticide and toxic chemical news, Issue 90, Volume 7

The Codex Committee on Food Labeling on May 11 deferred a decision on draft guidelines for mandatory labeling of bioengineered food in response to opposition from the United States and four other countries, according to Consumers International.

CI, which sent a 12-member team to the meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, to lobby for biotech labeling, reported that during debate 30 delegations spoke in favor and 18 remained silent.

"Despite the overwhelming support for labeling, the conclusion of the meeting was to defer a decision," CI said. "Discussions will continue over the year, but little other progress was made at the meeting."

The United States has kept biotech labeling bottled up in the CCFL for more than a decade. This year the U.S. argued that the committee should abandon work on the issue if it cannot make progress.

In addition to the United States, countries that tried to terminate discussion on biotech labeling guidelines included Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay and the Philippines, CI said. European Union member-states favored continuing discussion, along with Japan, Brazil, Malaysia, India, Kenya, Indonesia, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, Tunisia, Senegal, Swaziland, Panama, Turkey and Ghana.

"The interests of biotech companies are being put before consumer interests," commented Samuel Ochieng, CEO of Kenya's Consumers Information Network and head of the CI lobbying team. "However, we are encouraged that many countries are beginning to recognize the need for labeling, and next time we hope to move forward."
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2.Aussies accused of double standards for sake of US
Kota Kinabalu
Daily Express, 13 May 2005
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/print.cfm?NewsID=34468

Consumers International (CI) has accused Australia of playing double standards at the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL), which aims to set an international standard for labelling genetically modified (GM) food and food ingredients.

The meeting here ends today (Friday). A 12-member strong delegation from CI was on hand to lobby delegates from 55 countries to speak up for an international guideline on labelling of all GM food that would protect countries (which already have labelling of GM food) from being challenged at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

CI Head Office (UK) Communications Officer, Julia Crosfield, said it was incredible that Australia, which already has mandatory labelling requirements for GM food, had spoken out against Codex guidelines, Wednesday.

The other country that took a similar stand at the meeting was Thailand. Australia is one of the 40 countries with mandatory labelling of GM food, and this accounts for one-third of the world's population.

The others include Brazil, China, Japan, Russia, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and the European Union (EU). Last year, the EU comprising 25 countries, introduced a comprehensive labelling system and traceability mechanism for GM food, reportedly among the strictest in the world.

"Australia has behaved badly on the international level because they have GM labelling in their own country, and yet they were not taking that stand on the international level during the Codex meeting.

"In Australia, foods with GM proteins that are detectable in testing must be labelled. Labels provide consumers with vital information about the ingredients in their food," Crosfield told Daily Express, Thursday.

Of the 55 country delegations (comprising government representatives), 30 countries spoke in favour of labelling GM food. Some of these delegations have representatives from food and biotechnology industries, consumer advocacy groups and environmental groups such as Green Peace. <P>
CI felt that Australia should have voted in favour of a more comprehensive labelling regime for GM foods.

The Australian delegation was led by Melanie Fisher of Food Standards, Australia & New Zealand. On the 18 countries which remained silent at the Codex meeting, Crosfield said they should have spoken up in support.

"Members of delegations from these countries have done research on issues relating to GM food, organic food and trans-fatty acids. Either they don't have an opinion or they are sitting on the fence."

When interviewed, the Australian Consumers' Association's Food Policy Officer, Clare Hughes said: "We are ashamed that Australia spoke against labelling of GM food.

"Australia has labelling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and yet the delegation failed to stand up for the even limited amount of protection we have at home.

"As such, we are denying countries from having the benefits of something that Australians already have." Hughes reckoned that Australia's stand stemmed from its trade agreement with the United States.

"Even so, they can trade with America and have GM food labelling at the same time."

Crosfield regretted that discussions would now continue over the year. A working group has been appointed to further discuss the issue.

"It will be led by Canada (which has been the host country for the CCFL since its first session in June 1965)."

Countries whose delegates supported discussions on GM labelling were the European Union (EU) countries - Austria, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary and Netherlands.

Other countries in support were Japan, Brazil, Malaysia, India, Kenya, Indonesia, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, Tunisia, Senegal, Swaziland, Panama, Turkey and Ghana.

Senior Standards Officer Alice Onyango from the Kenya Bureau of Standards proposed that food that contains genetically altered (GA) DNA or protein must be labelled.

"This means any food, food ingredient, food additive, food-processing aid or flavouring that contains genetically altered DNA or protein must be identified on the label as being genetically altered.

"Likewise, food that has altered characteristics must be labelled. This means that if food is significantly different from its non-GM counterpart with respect to allergenicity, toxicity, nutritional ipact or end use, it must be identified on the label as being genetically modified (altered)."

The purpose of labelling such food, she said, is to provide consumers with useful information and information regarding health and safety.