In a shocking abandonment of consumers’ right to information, as enshrined in the Treaty of the European Union, policy makers of two EU institutions are removing citizens’ right to make informed choices (as provided for in the EU General Food Law).
It is equally alarming how much the European Commission and the Council are leaving the food industry out in the cold. It will have to bear the costs of safety testing for NGT1 products classified as 'novel foods' as well as liability risks should New GMOs turn out to be harmful to consumers.
Our hopes now rest with the European Parliament. In the trilogue negotiations, it must defend its position on traceability and labelling through the entire supply chain - through to the product on the supermarket shelf. That must be its red line: to protect the right to know of consumers, food manufacturers, and retailers, who must ultimately answer as to whether New GMOs are in their products.
We call on MEPs to act as representatives of the people and not as representatives of a few large biotech companies.
More information:
An open letter to EU Agriculture Ministers last year to call for labelling of New GMOs, transparency and freedom of choice through the entire value chain garnered huge support.
Consumers’ rights to information are enshrined in the Treaty of the European Union: “In order to promote the interests of consumers and to ensure a high level of consumer protection, the Union shall contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic interests of consumers, as well as to promoting their right to information, education and to organise themselves in order to safeguard their interests.” (Article 169(1) Treaty of the European Union)
The EU General Food Law adds to Article 169(1) of the Treaty of the European Union: “Food law shall aim at the protection of the interests of consumers and shall provide a basis for consumers to make informed choices in relation to the foods they consume.” (Article 8 (1) of Regulation (EC) 178/2002)