Rock wants mandatory labels on GM food - Plan fought by other federal departments

Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief
National Post
October 5, 2001

OTTAWA - Allan Rock, the Minister of Health, says mandatory labelling of
all genetically modified foods imported or produced in Canada is
necessary to respond to citizens' growing demand to know what is in the
food they eat.

A national task force had recommended in August that the federal
government allow a voluntary system of labels for so-called GM foods,
but Mr. Rock told the National Post yesterday that Canada must follow
the European example of imposing mandatory regulations.

"We should be looking at the question of mandatory labelling," he said.
"The bottom line is consumers want to have the information and they want
to have a choice and to understand what they are eating. I think any
government should facilitate that.

"It is about time government caught up to the will of Canadians to be
reasonably informed about what they are putting in their bodies. There
is a strong public interest."

Despite strong opposition to mandatory labelling from the departments of
Industry, International Trade and Agriculture, Mr. Rock intends to ask
the House of Commons health committee to begin a comprehensive study of
the issue.

Genetically modified food is the term used for food that has had its
genetic makeup altered to display certain characteristics or to make it
resistant to pests, eliminating the need for insecticides.

Critics of GM food say it has the potential to cause or inflame
allergies, create strains resistant to antibiotics, and cause so-called
superweeds to flourish.

In February, a panel from the Royal Society of Canada called for a
national research program to be established to monitor the long-term
effects of GM organisms on the environment and human and animal health.

Mr. Rock said Canada has to catch up to the rest of the world in
establishing regulations governing genetically modified food, including
the labelling of foods.

"In Europe, there is a policy that you must label if there is anything
genetically modified in the food. In Japan, there are rules coming into
effect in January. In Australia and New Zealand, there are rules coming
into effect in December of this year, so I think we should take look at
it," he said.

"This is an ideal issue for Members of Parliament to consult Canadians
on -- to bring consumer groups and industry and farmers and scientists
in front of a committee, open the curtains, let some light in."

The biotechnology industry maintains genetically modified foods grow
faster, last longer, are more resistant to insects and weeds, and have
led to a significant increase in food production in developing
countries.

"Some people are concerned that if you label a product as genetically
modified, you are sending a message that it is dangerous, and therefore
people won't buy it. I don't agree with that," Mr. Rock said.

"It's all about information and choice, and it's time we in Canada got
our act together on that."

In August, the Canadian biotechnology advisory committee released an
interim report that recommended a voluntary system of labelling, but Mr.
Rock noted there is not an industry consensus on acceptable standards.

"There are questions of what percentages [of genetic modification]
should be the threshold before labelling is required. What kind of
labelling would we have? Should it be negative, should it be positive?
What implications are there for trade, for farmers and the food
industry? All those people should be heard from, but I don't think we
can any longer ignore it," he added.

Charles Caccia, a Liberal MP, already has a private member's bill before
Parliament to amend the Food and Drug Act to require mandatory labelling
of all foods or food ingredients that contain genetically altered
materials. Mr. Rock said he supports Mr. Caccia's legislation.