FED: Genetically modified food to be fully labelled

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-1998
FED: Genetically modified food to be fully labelled

CANBERRA, Dec 17 AAP - All genetically modified food must be labelled after Australian
health ministers today rejected a recommendation to allow exceptions.

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council supported a motion from South Australian
Health Minister Dean Brown to require labelling for food deemed "substantially equivalent" to
its conventional counterparts.

A spokesman for Mr Brown said the vote was six to four in favour of full labelling.

The council last July adopted requirements for all genetically modified food to be tested
for safety and to require labelling of food deemed substantially different from its
conventional counterparts.

But it deferred a decision on substantially equivalent foods pending more information on
international developments.

The peak food industry body, the Australian Food Council, had been pressing against
labelling for substantially equivalent foods.

AAP kaw/mfh/it

KEYWORD: FOOD DECISION

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