Industry welcomes consensus on voluntary food labeling
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2003
(OTTAWA) - This week the Canadian General Standards Board delivered the results of the latest vote on establishing a voluntary standard for the labeling and advertisement of foods derived from biotechnology. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) voted to approve the proposed standard, and is encouraged to learn a consensus has been achieved on this important issue.
“This is an issue of importance to all Canadians. Any standard had to serve and balance both the needs of consumers and the needs of the industry,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “While we still have some concerns about implementation, the fact a consensus has been achieved on the standard means we can move forward.”
In the latest draft of the standard, CFA supported the compromise wording on the following issues: 1) label claims for highly refined ingredients (products derived from GE sources which do not contain GE materials) and 2) add an exclusion of enzymes from the scope of the standard.
CFA continues to have concerns in how the standard will be implemented and how imported products will be monitored. CFA recommends that those who will be implementing the standard be provided with or assist in the development of an implementation guide that will assist in clearly articulating the requirements of this voluntary standard. In addition it must be clearly thought out how label claims will be verified and enforced for both domestic and imported products.
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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.
Contact:
Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)
Kieran Green, COmmunications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633
