Austria wants food labelling transparency amid likely gene editing deregulation
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Loading... - Angelina Hauser
- 20 Apr 2023
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Austria wants food labelling transparency amid likely gene editing deregulation The European Commission is expected to decide whether to loosen existing EU rules on new genomic techniques (NGTs) as these are currently subject to GMO Directive’s strict restrictions. Austria's Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler and Consumer Protection Minister Johannes Rauch have sent a letter to EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides asking for a safety assessment of genetically modified products and mandatory labelling. The letter states that the EU should stick to existing rules to protect consumers and the environment. Green MEPs in favour of deregulating NGTs as their MEPs have stressed the impossibility of labelling foodstuffs as gene-edited since genetic improvements are not identifiable in the final products.
The European Commission must implement a safety assessment of genetically modified products and maintain mandatory labelling, Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler and Consumer Protection Minister Johannes Rauch said in a letter to EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides as Brussels is expected to push for the deregulation new genomic techniques.
By early June, the Commission is expected to decide whether to loosen existing EU rules on new genomic techniques (NGTs) as these are currently subject to GMO Directive’s strict restrictions. By altering the genome, NGTs can genetically engineer plant qualities such as drought tolerance. Read More..
