GM food labelling

(August 2013)

Do GM foods have to be labelled?

GM foods, ingredients, additives, or processing aids that contain novel DNA or protein must be labelled with the words ‘genetically modified’. Novel DNA or protein is defined in the Food Standards Code as DNA or a protein which, as a result of the use of gene technology, is different in chemical sequence or structure from DNA or protein present in counterpart food, which has not been produced using gene technology.

Labelling is also required when genetic modification results in an altered characteristic in a food, e.g. soy beans with changed nutritional characteristics such as an increase in their oleic acid content.

GM labelling is not about safety. It is about helping consumers make an informed choice about the food they buy.

All GM foods and ingredients must undergo a safety assessment and be approved before they can be sold in Australia and New Zealand.

The decision on how GM foods are labelled was made by the ministers responsible for food regulation in 2001.

 

In January 2011, recommendation 29 of an independent review of food labelling recommended that the existing labelling provisions for GM foods should remain. In December 2011, ministers agreed that the existing labelling provisions were appropriate. 

Where will I find GM on the label?

You will find the statement ‘genetically modified’ on the label either next to the name of the food, e.g. genetically modified soy beans, or in association with the specific ingredient in the ingredient list, e.g. soyflour (genetically modified). If the food is unpackaged, then the information must be displayed close to the food at the point of sale, for example genetically modified soy beans on a container of loose dried soy beans.

Exemptions from GM labelling

GM foods that do not contain any novel DNA or protein or altered characteristics do not require labelling. A decision not to label these foods was made because the composition and characteristics of these foods is exactly the same as the non-GM food. These foods are typically highly refined foods, such as sugars and oils, where processing has removed DNA and protein from the food, including novel DNA and novel protein.

Flavours containing novel DNA or protein in a concentration of no more than 0.1% are also exempt from labelling.

Labelling is also not required when there is no more than 1% (per ingredient) of an approved GM food unintentionally present as an ingredient or processing aid in a non-GM food. This means labelling is not required when a manufacturer genuinely orders non-GM ingredients but finds that up to 1% of an approved GM ingredient is accidentally mixed in non-GM ingredient.

None of the above exemptions apply if the GM food has altered characteristics.

What about food I buy in restaurants?

Food prepared and sold from food premises and vending vehicles (e.g. restaurants, takeaway food outlets, caterers) is also exempt from GM food labelling requirements. In these cases the food business must supply consumers with information about the product which is not misleading or untruthful.

‘GM free’ and ‘non-GM’ claims

‘GM free’ and ‘non-GM’ claims are made voluntarily by food manufacturers and are subject to relevant fair trading laws in Australia and New Zealand which prohibit representations about food that are, or likely to be, false, misleading or deceptive. More information on fair trade legislation is available from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and New Zealand Commerce Commission websites.

Is there a list of GM foods?

FSANZ is responsible for approving GM foods and food ingredients for use in the food supply in Australia. These permissions can be found in the GM standard. We do not maintain a list of food products in the marketplace which contain GM foods, ingredients or processing aids. Retailers or manufacturers may be able to provide this information.

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/gmfood/labelling/Pages/default.aspx