91997E2140

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2140/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (24 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Labelling requirements

In accordance with the novel food regulation ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1. )), will labelling of a genetically modified food be required only id there is both a difference in its nutritional characteristics, as compared with a product which has not been genetically modified, and if proof of the genetic modification is possible?

Answer (20 October 1997)

In addition to the general requirements of Community legislation on labelling of foodstuffs, Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.)) lays down additional specific labelling requirements to inform the final consumer.

Labels must inform the consumer, as appropriate of:

- any characteristic or food property which renders a novel food or food ingredient no longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient.

A novel food or food ingredient shall be deemed to be no longer equivalent if scientific assessment, based upon an appropriate analysis of existing data, can demonstrate that the characteristics assessed are different in comparison with a conventional food or food ingredient, having regard to the accepted limits of natural variations for such characteristics.

- the presence in the novel food or food ingredient of material which is not present in an existing equivalent foodstuff and which may have implications for the health of certain sections of the population or give rise to ethical concerns;

- the presence of an organism genetically modofied by techniques of genetic modification, the non-exhaustive list of which is laid down in Annex IA, Part 1 of Directive 90/220/EEC.