food labelling – a consumer’s right to know

Today saw a public hearing in Melbourne for the National Food Labelling review. The review is being undertaken by The Food Labelling Law and Policy Review Committee following on from an agreement by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council to undertake a comprehensive review of food labelling law and policy.

At the public hearing today around 50 people voiced their concerns about the lack of labelling in relation to country of origin, trans fats, food intolerances and genetically modified foods and ingredients. Consumers have a right to know what they're eating and at the moment Australia has very weak food labelling laws.

Samantha Dunn, Greg Revell & Bob Phelps from GeneEthics and Jessica Harrison from Cropwatch with Eating in the Dark protesters. Consumers are eating in the dark, we all have a right to know exactly what is in our food.

I joined with Madge members and other concerned people outside the hearing at the Eating in the Dark Rally to raise awareness about the issue of food labelling to city passerby's.

For too long there have been exemptions to food labelling. No longer can we accept this proposition, all GM ingredients must be labelled on our foods. We have the right to know where processed food ingredients are made and what is in them, particularly new and untried processed foods.

The Committee has developed an issues paper from the first round of submissions which forms the basis of current public consultation. Some of the statements within the Issues Paper are concerning.

The issues paper which forms the basis of the public consultation falsely claims that GM foods are labelled, ignoring the current exemptions that allow most foods made with GM to be unlabelled such as GM vegetable oils, starches, sugars, processing aids & additives and also exempts meat, milk, honey and eggs from animals that are fed GM feed. There is also a 1% threshold for accidental GM contamination. All foods made using GM techniques must be labelled without exception. It is the consumers right to know and to select the food products they wish to consume using truthful, transparent and accurate food labelling information.

Other concerns with the issues paper includes the statement "caution needs to be exercised in order that the development and application of these and other innovative technologies (eg: GM, nanotechnology, irradiation) are not unduly inhibited". If foods contain GM ingredients, nanotechnology or are irradiated then consumers have a right to know and exercise their freedom of choice when purchasing these goods. These technologies should not be hidden in a shroud of secrecy, this is about consumer rights and choices.

Currently GM foods require Pre Market Clearance and must undergo health and safety assessments (not testing), however if they are not labelled they are not captured under this requirement.

GM patent owners still refuse to supply the seed and approvals for independent research and prevent negative evidence from being published. Until substantial and independent research is undertaken consumers cannot be assured of the safety of GM foods for the environment and public health. These are all reasons why our food labelling laws must be tightened up.

The Committee is calling for public submissions and this is your opportunity to voice your concerns about food labelling in this country. If you are concerned I encourage you to write an online submission, but make sure you're quick , they're due by 14^th May, 2010.

are we gm seed free?

The last day of 2009 saw the harvest of a Genetically Modified (GM) Canola crop at a local farm in Beaconsfield (see blog), just across the boundary from the Eastern Victoria electorate.

It was a blustery day, with wind speeds reaching highs across the state. How could the seeds from this crop possible be contained under the windy conditions experienced on harvest day?

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This photo shows clearly the dust blowing up from the harvest. How many GM Canola seeds have been blown on to the roadsides, parklands, reserves and residential gardens in the municipalities of Cardinia and Casey?

There is no independent assessment process for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and there should be. The assessment should be based on rigorous and robust scientific standards, we should have a full understanding of the impact of GMOs prior to their release into our food chain and our environment. This should be law in Victoria.

The decision to allow GM Canola to be grown in Victoria was a retrograde one, just as it is in the recently announced Western Australia decision to allow GM crops.

Victoria has lost its clean green image, it was a backward step, our ability to market our primary produce as GM free squandered.

Already we have seen GM pollen outbreaks confirmed in Geelong, the pollen making its way into the honey of a local honey producer.

GM contamination is inevitable and leaves communities, organic farmers and local councils with major clean up headaches into the future. This is a ticking time bomb.

The people of Victoria don't want GM food and don't want GM crops, it's time to restore Victoria's clean, green reputation.

gmo free public meeting for casey & cardinia

Berwick says no to GMO

Residents show their concern about a local GM Canola Crop

This morning I met with concerned Berwick residents outside a farm growing genetically modified canola. The farm, owned by the family of the State Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu, is not labelled as growing GM crops but was recently uncovered by CropWatch. Residents were none the wiser, not realising they lived so close to a GM crop.
















Back in February 2008 the Brumby Government lifted the moratorium on GM Canola. As recently as four weeks ago GM pollen outbreaks were confirmed in Geelong and had found their way into the honey of a local apiarist.

Victoria's clean green image has been sacrificed by the Brumby Government and puts at risk our agricultural exports. Contaminating our agricultural industry with GM can only reduce Victoria’s estimated $1.755 billion export trade.



















Residents in Berwick were alarmed to learn this GM crop was so close to the suburbs in which they live.

The closest GrainCorp depot for receival of GM Canola is in Geelong, some 120kms from Berwick. This increases the potential for contamination from the suburbs of Berwick all the way through to the city of Geelong.





















Reports have confirmed that canola seed can germinate up to 16 years after it is spilled.

Contamination by GM Canola is inevitable and leaves communities and local councils with clean up headaches into the future. This is a ticking time bomb on our roadsides.

The people of Victoria don't want GM food and don't want GM crops, it's time to restore Victoria's clean, green reputation.