LABELLING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

Mr Goh Chong Chia asked the Minister for the Environment, in view of much discussion and concern in the First World countries for genetically modified food to be labelled, whether he will consider having such food labelled so that it can be identified by consumers even though such concern has yet to be proven.

Mr Simon S C Tay asked the Minister for the Environment whether genetically modified foods will be labelled to allow consumers to make informed choices.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Various countries and international organisations are studying whether there is a need to label genetically modified food. The issue is a complex one and involves a variety of factors such as the scientific and objective assessment of genetically modified food in comparison with conventional food, the market implications and cost of labelling, the regime of labelling permissible under existing world trading rules and issues of practicality and enforcement. So far, there is no agreement or international trend on this issue.

Some states, including the large producers of such food, maintain that where stringent safety evaluation shows that genetically modified foods are not any different from conventional foods, there is no need to make a distinction between them. Other countries, including some with large agricultural communities which feel threatened by imports of such products, are agitating against their production and imports. There is also a school of thought that labelling will allow consumers to make an informed choice.

The Genetic Modification Advisory Committee is closely following these developments and will advise the Government whether to label such products. We should take a rational and objective approach, considering the weight of scientific assessment and analysis.