Mari StullGrocery Manufacturers of America, Inc. Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) contends that foods enhanced through biotechnology with recombinant DNA or rDNA-derived traits should not be labeled differently from other foods; however, it supports voluntary labeling when truthful and not misleading. This…
Janet NunnBritish Retail Consortium This paper delineates the identity preservation strategy being implemented by the British Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink Federation towards genetically modified foods. The strategy is in direct response to British consumer concerns about genetically modified foods…
John N. HathcockCouncil for Responsible Nutrition The precautionary principle originated in environmental risk management to provide regulatory authority to stop specific environmental contaminations without waiting for conclusive evidence of harm to the environment (i.e., while there was still “uncertainty” about the evidence)….
Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes and Peter W.B. PhillipsUniversity of Missouri & University of Saskatchewan, Canada In 1962, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (or Codex) was formed under the joint sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Its charge…
Stefano Boccaletti and Daniele MoroUniversità Cattolica, Piacenza, Italy This paper evaluates consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP) for food products obtained through the application of biotechnology using data collected from a consumer survey in Italy in 1999. Survey results show that consumers have a low…
Neil A. BelsonAttorney at Law Three federal agencies—the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—share primary responsibility for regulating biotechnology in the United States. This article describes each agency’s role as it relates…
John R. LupienUniversity of Massachusetts This paper provides background to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, its activities, and current Codex considerations. It argues that food standards work, and the control of food quality and safety must be based on the best available scientific…
Eddie KimbrellKimbrell and Associates There are two goals of the Codex Alimentarius Commission: (1) to protect the health of consumers, and (2) to promote fair practices in the food trade. These goals are accomplished by development of food standards, food guidelines, codes…
Anne A. MacKenzieCanadian Food Inspection Agency The Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) is currently considering the issue of genetically modified (GM) food labeling in an effort to develop guidelines for international harmonization. This paper provides a summary of the CCFL’s seven-year…
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,…
