Don BuckinghamUniversity of Ottawa, Canada This paper briefly describes the history and operation of Codex; its involvement in matters affecting trade in products of biotechnology; the fit of its standards in the WTO framework; and concludes with the challenges that lie ahead,…

Mark Mansour and Jennifer B. BennettKeller and Heckman As controversial food trade issues, such as biotechnology, occupy the interests of consumers and regulators throughout the world, the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) has assumed vital importance. With this increased prominence…

Peter W.B. Phillips and Heather McNeillUniversity of Saskatchewan Rising consumer concerns with genetically modified foods and products has led a number of countries around the world to introduce rules for labeling the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients. This paper presents a…

Julie A. CaswellUniversity of Massachusetts The use of biotechnology can affect the actual and perceived quality of food products through its effect on an array of intrinsic quality attributes. Buyers may agree or differ on which of these effects creates high or…

Richard Maltsbarger and Nicholas KalaitzandonakesIBM & University of Missouri Any labeling scheme must be supported by an effective identity preservation system which implies extra logistical costs. Both direct and hidden costs exist in identity preserved systems. Such costs vary substantially with the…

Edna EinsiedelUniversity of Calgary Labeling policies for genetically modified (GM) foods are under intense scrutiny and development worldwide. The fact that Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex)—the international body primarily responsible for food standards including labeling practices—has been unable to reach consensus on GM…

Nicholas KalaitzandonakesUniversity of Missouri When it comes to agricultural biotechnology, public policies in the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) have been radically different. In the US, products of agricultural biotechnology have been extensively tested and marketed. In the EU,…

John B. RichardsonEuropean Commission, Belgium Despite the rhetoric, the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) share a common attitude towards farming and its role in society and, as a result, their policies are converging rapidly. The rationale behind the policy…

Tassos HaniotisEuropean Commission, Belgium There are a large number of issues that need to be clarified across the European Union (EU) and United States (US) on policies affecting agricultural production and food safety. While both the US and EU aim to meet…

George GaskellLondon School of Economics, United Kingdom The latest European sample survey of public perceptions of biotechnology shows that Europeans continue to support medical applications of biotechnology but have become increasingly opposed to genetically modified (GM) foods. Furthermore, while the cloning of…