May 17, 2007 – The Government of Canada does not intend to make mandatory the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in products that contain them. Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Chuck Strahl told the media.
According to Minister Strahl, it is up to consumers to put pressure on the industry themselves, in particular through the choices they make at the grocery store. “Consumers should always make it known that they have the final say. They may not buy products if they don’t [le veulent pas]… ”he declared in the House on May 9, 2007.1.
“Consumers are precisely unable to make informed choices, since they cannot know whether a product contains GMOs”, maintains Eric Darier of Greenpeace. According to him, 80% of consumers in the country want GMO labeling and 70% say they do not want to eat them.
Several pressure groups, including Greenpeace and the Consumers Union, deplore that no product sold in the country displays the presence of GMOs, since the government opted for a voluntary labeling measure three years ago. They are publicly demanding that Canada emulate the 40 or so countries that have made GMO labeling mandatory.
For the moment, no study confirms that GMOs can be harmful to health or the environment. However, their safety also remains to be demonstrated.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Transcript of debates, serial of May 9, 2007 from the 1D session of the 39e (Oral questions – Agriculture and agri-food). The document is available at www2.parl.gc.ca [consulté le 17 mai 2007].
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