World Consumer Rights Day 2005 focus on GMOs
PRESS RELEASE

On 15 March 2005, World Consumer Rights Day, consumer organisations all over the world will say NO to GMOs! Consumer International (CI) member organisations will lobby governments, hold public meetings and street demonstrations to stop the spread of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They will demand labelling of all GM foods and independent safety testing.

Consumers have a right to information, a right to choice and a right to safety. On 15 March consumer organisations will campaign for labelling of all foods containing or derived from GMOs. They will demand that alternatives to GM foods remain widely available. Ways must be found to establish and secure GM-free areas, and strict rules introduced to prevent contamination of conventional and organic crops. All foods containing or derived from GMOs must be independently tested and subject to international safety guidelines.

David Cuming, CI GM Campaign Manager says: 'The insertion of GMOs into foodstuffs threatens fundamental consumer rights. Consumers International is concerned about GMOs because we have yet to see tangible benefits for consumers and farmers. We campaigned on this issue in the past and it remains at the top of the consumer agenda.'

CI have released three fact sheets, for World Consumer Rights Day, covering key issues on GMOs: Why consumers should take action; Get your food labelled; and "Co-existence" or GM-free zones? CI members are receiving ideas for action, such as events and lobbying, and model letters for international and national authorities and retailers.

These materials are available on CI website: www.consumersinternational.org/wcrd

About Consumers International
Consumers International is a federation of consumer organisations dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer's rights worldwide through empowering national consumer groups and campaigning at the national level. It currently represents over 250 organisations in 115 countries.

For more information, see: www.consumersinternational.org