GM laws slated as too lax

By ANNE BESTON

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley called new labelling rules for genetically modified foods which came into force yesterday a "Clayton's scheme".

Under the Australia and New Zealand Food Authority rules, products that contain 0.1 per cent or more of genetically modified ingredients must be labelled. But in a contentious decision by Anzfa, the rules do not apply to products already on shelves.

"It is simply not fair to make people eat something they do not want and, sadly, this Clayton's scheme does nothing to stop exactly that," Ms Kedgley said.

She said highly refined oils, fats and sugars made from GM crops were exempt, as were flavourings, colourings and additives. Only a handful of GM foods, including soy flour, soy protein, and soy protein foods such as tofu and soymilk were likely to require a label.

By December 7 next year, all foods with higher GM content than the 0.1 per cent threshold will have to be labelled.

Woolworths NZ marketing director Des Flynn said most suppliers had made sure products came in under the threshold long before the new regime.

Foodstuffs NZ executive manager Melissa Hodd also said few products would require a label and any new food that exceeded the threshold would not be accepted. The company owns the Pak 'N Save, New World, Write Price and Four Square chains.

nzherald.co.nz/ge

Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification

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