Earlier today we noted how polls consistently show that an overwhelming majority of American consumers want GM foods to be labelled. The US and its puppets (listed below) are determined to try and block people having them. In some cases, in order to win favour with the U.S., the governments of countries that already have labelling are seeking to block labelling spreading!

EXCERPTS:

'Forty countries have mandatory labelling of GM and this accounts for one third of the world's population. Despite this, a handful of countries still managed to block substantial process on an international standard for labelling of GMOs.'

Countries that tried to terminate discussions on the GM labelling guidelines at Codex:
United States
Mexico
Argentina
Paraguay
Philippines

Countries with GM labelling who spoke out against Codex guidelines:
Australia
Thailand
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United States tries to derail discussion on labelling of GM food
11 May, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

The international Codex Committee on Food Labelling today deferred a decision on the mandatory labelling of genetically modified (GM) food.

The United States and four other countries tried to derail global support for the measure by European, African and Asian countries.

From 55 country delegations present, 30 spoke in favour of labelling of GM food and 18 remained silent. Despite the overwhelming support for labelling, the conclusion of the meeting was to defer a decision. Discussions will continue over the year, but little other progress was made at the meeting.

A 12-strong delegation from Consumers International (CI) lobbied delegates to speak up for an international guideline that would protect countries with labelling of GM food from a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute and give guidance to developing countries wishing to introduce labelling legislation. Consumer rights to safety, to information, and to a healthy and sustainable environment are threatened by the current marketing of GMOs.

Members of the CI delegation expressed deep disappointment about the outcome.

Head of CI delegation, Mr Samuel Ochieng, Chief Executive Officer, Consumers Information Network, Kenya, said: 'The interests of biotech companies are being put before consumer interests. GM food is substantially different from non-GM food. With GM, genes can be transferred between unrelated species such as from a swine to a vegetable or from wheat to rice. The health impacts are unknown and GM food is not currently safety tested. However, we are encouraged that many countries are beginning to recognise the need for labelling and next time we hope to move forward.'

Sue Davies, Chief Policy Advisor, Which? (the UK Consumers' Association), said:
'Forty countries have mandatory labelling of GM and this accounts for one third of the world's population. Despite this, a handful of countries still managed to block substantial process on an international standard for labelling of GMOs.'

Clare Hughes, Food Policy Officer, Australian Consumers'Association, said: `We are ashamed that Australia spoke against labelling of GM food. Australia has labelling of GMOs and the delegation failed to stand up for the even limited amount of protection we have at home. We are denying countries from having the benefits of something that Australians already have.'


David Cuming, CI GM Campaign Manager, said: `Consumers International members worldwide have put a huge effort into lobbying countries to support labelling of GM food. We have heard massive support from countries who have not previously taken a stand on GM. The US and others have failed to derail discussions but we are optimistic that more nations now understand the importance of labelling for consumer information. The consumers right to know must be upheld.'

Further information Contact: Julia Crosfield, Tel: +44 7974 922 703, E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note to editors:
Countries with mandatory labelling: Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union (which last year introduced comprehensive labelling and traceability of GM food).

Countries that tried to terminate discussions on the GM labelling guidelines at Codex:
United States
Mexico
Argentina
Paraguay
Philippines

Countries with GM labelling who spoke out against Codex guidelines:
Australia
Thailand

Countries who supported discussions on GM labelling at Codex:
The European Union (EU) countries:
Austria, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary and the Netherlands.

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

Kaye Stearman
Global Communications Co-ordinator, Consumers International
Tel: +44 20 7226 6663 x 219, Mobile: 07985 023005