Byrne signals hardline approach to GM consumer safety
EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne said ensuring GM consumer safety was the key to public acceptance of the use of biotechnology in the agri-food sector. Presenting Commission proposals for the regulation of GM food and feed to the European parliament on 11 September, Commissioner Byrne said; 'In the minds of the European public, safety is the most important ingredient of their food. Compromising on food safety is not the way forward.' He explained: 'A high level of protection, consumer choice and transparent, uniform and efficient authorisation procedures are key elements in fostering social acceptance and trust in the application of biotechnology to food and feed.' He said the Commission proposals signalled a hardline approach to the question of GM safety: 'The purpose of labelling is not to inform the consumer about the safety or lack of safety of a food: if a food is unsafe it cannot be placed on the market. There is no question of allowing it on the market but warning the consumer of a potential hazard.' The Commission's proposals aim to guarantee GM safety from farm to fork by introducing mandatory labelling of all foods produced from GMOs - irrespective of whether GM DNA or protein is detectable in the final product - and of all genetically modified feed. He added: 'The choice I want to give Europe's consumers is very simple - 'I can choose whether or not to buy food produced from a GMO.'' Commissioner Byrne outlined two key principles underlining the new proposals - that GM food and feed must not mislead the consumer or the user, and that they must not differ from their natural equivalents in a way that would reduce nutritional benefit for consumers or animals. The proposal also states that GMOs likely to be used as both food and feed must be authorised for both uses or not at all. Mr Byrne denied that the new labelling proposals would lead to an increase in costs. He said the current DNA and protein labelling regime did not lead to increased costs when it was introduced in 1997, in spite of dire predictions. Commissioner Byrne also outlined the role which the proposed European Food Authority (EFA), due to come into effect next year, will play in the new regulations. He said the EFA would be responsible for carrying out the scientific risk assessment of GMOs. Subsequent EU decisions to authorise GM food and feed will be taken on the basis of the EFA's scientific opinion. The proposal also includes the establishment of a public Community register of genetically modified food and feed. It states that authorisations should be limited to 10 years, renewable for the same period thereafter. Commissioner Byrne said he was also working on similar proposals for the seed sector in order to complete the picture on GM safety.