Commissioner welcomes more GMO labelling, but criticises scare mongering
EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, has welcomed a Council decision of further labelling requirements for genetically modified food and feed, but criticised 'scare mongering'. Under the new law, all foods produced from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), irrespective of whether this a DNA or protein of GM origin in the final product will have to be labelled, as will genetically modified feed. Retailers must already label food consisting of or containing GMOs. 'This new law further ensures consumer choice through labelling of GMO derived food and also provides the farmer with information. I feel strongly that our citizens need to be able to make this choice. But I would also like to say that I deplore scare mongering about GMOs: every GMO authorised in the EU has been evaluated for its safety by independent scientists and there are no known adverse effects on human health from eating GMOs.'