Europe gets tough on food labels
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Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer US
Published : 03 May 2004 16:19
Much more stringent European regulations on labeling food products that contain genetically modified ingredients went into effect in April, which may further hurt exports from the US food industry to Europe.
Much more stringent European regulations on labeling food products that contain genetically modified ingredients went into effect in April, which may further hurt exports from the US food industry to Europe.
The new rules are even tougher than current European Union labeling requirements. Products with 0.9 percent genetically modified ingredients will have to state so on their packaging, as opposed to the current one percent threshold requirement in the EU. Also, previously exempt ingredients, such as certain vegetable oils, will now be subject to the rules.
Food with genetically modified ingredients is deeply unpopular in Europe, with some surveys saying that 75 percent of consumers will not buy products with such ingredients, citing concerns about safety.
The tightened rules could add to EU trade trouble for US food manufacturers, as 40 percent of the US corn crop and 80 percent of the US soybean cropÑboth of which figure heavily in US processed foodsÑcome from genetically modified seed. In the US, where there are no labeling rules, some 70 percent of foods contain genetically modified ingredients.
Under pressure from the US, the EU is currently considering lifting an unofficial five-year ban on GM product imports.
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