Deputies approve bill to remove GM identification from product labels
Labels
The Chamber of Deputies approved a bill Tuesday (Apr. 28) to relax a requirement to include a GM logo in the labels of genetically modified products designed for human consumption – including corn, soybeans, rice, soybean oil, corn meal, and others. Under the new proposal, the warning would only be required for foods that include “more than 1% of genetically modified organisms in their composition, verifiable through specific analysis.”
The proposal raised a heated debate and pitched the agribusiness lobby against environmentalists, who claim it is detrimental to citizens' rights. “This bill is robbing consumers of their right to know the kind of products they are buying. As a critical industry for Brazil, the agribusiness sector has a responsibility to properly inform consumers,” argued Green Party leader Sarney Filho.
According to Deputy Domingos Sávio, of the agribusiness caucus, “this is an outstanding bill that ensures the consumers have the right to be informed.” According to him, 90% of soybeans and corn sold in Brazil have GM products in their makeup. Valdir Colatto, the bill rapporteur, added: “We can't create barriers against the consumption of our own products. Agribusiness feeds this country,” he pointed out.
“If you all agree that GM foods are wonderful, then why would you want to remove the GM label? Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?” argued Alessandro Molon, deputy leader of the Workers' Party. The draft text approved in the Chamber of Deputies will now be submitted to the Senate for approval.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Deputies approve bill to remove GM identification from product labels
