A Survey of National Labeling Policies for GM Foods

Abstract

Rising consumer concerns with genetically modified foods and products has led a number of countries around the world to introduce rules for labeling the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients. This paper presents a survey of the countries around the world that have adopted or indicate that they plan to adopt rules to govern labels in the marketplace. So far, more than 26 countries have either adopted provisions or announced plans for rules to assist the market to develop and deliver labeled products. The challenge facing industry, national governments and international trade organizations is that each of the systems being developed has different tolerances, diverging application, and weak or inconsistent enforcement, compounding the tasks of international trade.