Are biotech foods or ingredients labelled in Canada?
In 1999 The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) launched a project to create a Standard for the Voluntary Labelling of Foods Obtained or Not Obtained Through Genetic Modification.18 Since then, 53 member groups representing consumers, grower groups and biotechnology developers have worked on a draft standard, through a consultative and consensual process and are close to announcing the final version. From the outset, the groups agreed to five principles that will guide the new standard: informative, understandable, verifiable, not false and not misleading to consumers. The Consumers Association of Canada, the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee have endorsed the voluntary approach. Canada’s parliament on October 17, 2001 and October 19, 2000 voted against motions calling for mandatory labelling. The new standard, expected in early 2004, will make Canada a global leader in food labelling. Canada is also the chair of the international Codex Alime
