The definition of "non-GMO" foods

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recyclinage
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The definition of "non-GMO" foods




by recyclinage » 05/11/09, 12:32

The opinion delivered on Tuesday 3 November by the High Council for Biotechnologies (HCB), established by the law on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) of June 2008, was particularly awaited. It is the baptism of fire of this institution, which is more on a very controversial subject: the labeling of food "without GMO".
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The law of June 2008 affirmed the freedom to produce "with or without GMOs", by referring the definition of this last concept to a decree. Today, the only clear definition concerns foods containing more than 0,9% GMOs, which must be labeled. The stake is important, because the more the thresholds chosen so that the sectors can be displayed "without GMO" will be low, the more they will be difficult to reach technically in the field (because of the cross pollination between the cultures) and the more the cost of separation of the channels will be high.

The HCB advocates "realistic, viable and acceptable thresholds for the consumer," said Christine Noiville, president of the economic, ethical and social committee of the HCB, which drew up this opinion. Or a maximum threshold of 0,1% of transgenic DNA for plant products. This is, according to the HCB, the lowest "technically feasible" value. "We must accept that the GMO-free does not correspond to absolute zero, said Christine Noiville. There are GMO productions on the planet and the risks of mixing exist."

For animal products (milk, meat, cheese, eggs), the HCB recommends a statement "fed without GMO food" which will be reserved for animals fed with food containing less than 0,1% of transgenic DNA. The time to allow the emergence of a "GMO-free" livestock feed sector, which does not exist today - feed is mainly imported from GMO-producing countries - labeling for animals fed with plants containing between 0,1% and 0,9% GMO is planned for a period of five years.

Products from animals fed on GMOs would remain unlabelled, in accordance with European regulations. For beekeeping products, the term "GMO-free" would refer to a minimum distance between the apiary and the transgenic crops.

If, as is probable, the HCB's opinion is followed by the government, coexistence will be difficult to achieve in the event of future development of transgenic crops in France: compliance with the 0,1% threshold will impose great distances d isolation between fields, even the establishment of specialized areas. A new HCB opinion will be issued on this subject. It also remains to be determined who will bear the additional costs induced by the separation of the sectors.
Gaelle Dupont


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