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Mandatory labelling for GM products

by Manjula Fernando

The labelling of all Genetically Modified (GM) products will be mandatory in Sri Lanka shortly. Official sources at the Health Ministry said yesterday that they were formulating regulations to make it mandatory for producers and importers to label their products in future.

The regulations will have added provisions to enable consumers to take legal action against offenders. The sources said this was a key recommendation of the special committee appointed by the Health Ministry in August last year to look into the issue of GM food.

The committee chaired by Professor Rohan Jayasekera, Head of Anatomy and Human Genetics Department of the Colombo Medical Faculty submitted their report to Minister P. Dayaratne recently.

They have emphasised the need for testing and risk assessment facilities as well as recognition and training of high calibre personnel in food safety to ensure the success of the whole endeavour.

Future regulations will include provisions to ban any item of GM product (food, organism, seed or material) if tested harmful for human health. The law will also provide for action against transport, storage, distribution, sale or offer for sale of such items.

The committee has pointed out that the Ministry should maintain regular and rigorous monitoring of market foods for genetically modified origins.

Jagath Gunawardena of the Society for Environment Education said they welcome the recommendations of the committee which upholds the rights of consumer. "Hope they will be enforced by regulations as soon as possible," he said.

Referring to provisions to ban any item tested harmful for human consumption, he said this was even in conformity to the Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary Standard Agreement of the WTO.

"The Government last year went for an easy option of a ban. We welcomed it. If the Department can introduce a proper labelling system, which we think is much more complicated, we can be happy with that. This is also in tune with the European Union regulations on GM food and organisms," Gunawardena said.

The business community, especially the large supermarket chains are unhappy about the impending regulation due to possible losses and additional expenditures on labelling.

In April last year, the Health Ministry banned the import of GM products in Sri Lanka, on a recommendation by the Food Advisory Committee. The ban was repealed on representations made by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Phyto Sanitary Agreement of the WTO was to be enforced from September 1, 2001. This was also deferred as the Health Ministry decided to look at the issue on a 'holistic manner'.

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