Prometheus 6   

Europe Acts to Require Labeling of Genetically Altered Food
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ

LONDON, July 2 � The European Parliament approved legislation today to require strict labels for food and feed made with genetically altered ingredients, a move that was hailed by environmentalists but pilloried by American farmers.

Intended to better inform wary European consumers, the legislation would require supermarkets to label all food containing more than 0.9 percent of a genetically modified organism. So, for example, a cookie made with genetically modified corn oil would carry a label that states: "This product contains a genetically modified organism."

The legislation also ensures that genetically modified (or G.M., as they are called here) foodstuffs like grains will be traced from the moment of their inception to their arrival in the European Union through the processing stage and into the supermarket.

"This should give consumers greater confidence," said David Byrne, the European commissioner for health and consumer protection.

The new laws are expected to receive final approval by the European Union's 15 member states this fall. They would not take effect until early next year.

The Bush administration criticized the legislation today, saying it would be burdensome for food producers, could prejudice consumers against genetically modified food and become a barrier to free trade.

"The European Union's practice may lead other countries to block trade by imposing detailed information, traceability and labeling requirements and prompt a host of new nontariff barriers just at a time we are trying to stimulate world trade," Richard Mills, the spokesman for the United States Trade Representatives, said in a statement released today.

Genetically modified foods, which are common in the United States, are passionately opposed by many Europeans, who call them "Frankenfoods" and fear they may pose long-term health and environmental risks. These crops have been biologically altered to build in a number of desirable characteristics, from insect resistance to faster growth to greater sugar retention.