GMOs & Consumer Protection Act

South Africa’s food shelves are stocked with hundreds of products that contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).These are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Section 24(4) of the CPA (Consumer Protection Act) states that the Minister of Trade and Industry can stipulate categories of “prescribed goods”to be labelled under the CPA, these include “anything marketed for human consumption”.The CPA provides for the indication of the presence of GM ingredients in certain foodstuff through appropriate description on the packaging.

These provisions require Regulations to be drafted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).Toensure that our rights are protected we call upon all consumers to write to Mr Andisa Potwana at DTI, LAPotwana@thedti.gov.za to support of the following recommendations:That the range of prescribed goods should include the following:• All ingredients in packaged food products that are derived from GM crops (whether or not itcontains any traces of GM materials);• Highly processed products derived from GM ingredients;• Additives and flavourings;• Meat and animal products fed with GM feed;• Food sold by caterers and restaurants and• Unpackaged foods.Further:• Labels should apply to all products that are genetically modified.• A maximum threshold level of 1% should be permitted to allow for the accidental or technically unavoidable GM content.• Products that are produced deliberately and directly using GM processes or have GM content, mustbe clearly labelled as ‘produced using genetic modification’;• A product should only be labelled ‘may contain genetically modified ingredients’ or ‘may be produced using processes of genetic modification’ in circumstances where they contain ingredients that may have come from a GM process and it is not known or feasible to test whether they are GM-free.• GM labelling regulations must define the way the terminology is used and the way it is applied.• Restaurants and food sold direct to the public must clearly indicate any GM content.• Labelling requirements must apply to both local and imported foods and ingredients.• Labelling should include balanced information about the possible adverse effects on human and environmental health.• The biotechnology corporations and the producers who have adopted them have benefited mostfrom GM technology and should bear the costs of segregation, testing and labelling.

The issue of a democratic food system that can provide safe, nutritious and affordable food for all is no less urgent!The information in this fact sheet was taken from the ACB briefing paper:‘Traceability, segregation and labelling of genetically modified products in South Africa’. Available at:http://www.biosafetyafrica.org.za/images/stories/dmdocuments/ACB_Policy_Labelling-201005.pdfFor more information on GMOs in South Africa please visit:www.biosafetyafrica.org.zahttp://www.biowatch.org.za/http://www.safeage.org/