ACCC to monitor GM labels
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Friday.
Consumers should package labelling on foods, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Friday.
The ACCC, together with other key stakeholders, recently provided advice to the Australian New Zealand Food Authority(ANZFA) on the development of the new Food Produced Using Gene Technology standard implemented late last year.
The standard has two provisions: a mandatory pre-market safety assessment requirement; and a mandatory labelling requirement. The provisions aim to ensure that foodstuffs with "GM Free" stickers, indicating foods are free of genetically modified organisms, are truthful.
ACCC Acting Chairman, Mr Rod Shogren, said last week:
"The ACCC will closely monitor the voluntary claims that businesses make over and above their obligations in relation to the Standard.
There is no room for ambiguity with a 'GM Free' claim. Businesses must be able to verify any labelling claim. The ACCC will be looking for documented verification systems underpinned by an effective Trade Practices compliance program "
