US Lawmaker plans genetic food label
                legislation

                USA: October 8, 1999


                WASHINGTON - A Democratic lawmaker said
                yesterday he would launch the first attempt in
                Congress to require labels on U.S. foods made with
                genetically-modified (GM) corn, potatoes and other
                crops to give American consumers a choice at the
                grocery store. 


                The bill, which is expected to be introduced by
                Representative Dennis Kucinich by the end of October,
                would be the first piece of U.S. legislation to take up the
                controversial issue of whether GM foods are different
                enough from conventional products to require special labels.

                Consumer demand has already forced Japan, Australia and
                the European Union to announce plans for mandatory
                labelling of some GM foods. In Canada, a large number of
                food retailers are are trying to develop voluntary labelling
                guidelines.

                The U.S. government has opposed mandatory labelling,
                saying bioengineered soybeans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes
                and other crops are no different from varieties developed
                through traditional plant breeding techniques.

                Kucinich gave few details about his planned bill, saying only
                that it would require labels "when appropriate."

                "I am concerned that the scientific knowledge to date is not
                extensive enough to remove all doubts about the health,
                safety and environmental impacts of genetically engineered
                food," Kucinich said. "American citizens must have the
                right to choose what foods they and their family eat."

                Kucinich announced the planned bill at a Senate Agriculture
                panel hearing on how the Food and Drug Administration,
                the U.S. Agriculture Department and the Environmental
                Protection Agency regulate GM foods. The trio share
                responsibility for field testing new crops, monitoring GM
                plants' impact on the environment and ensuring they are
                safe for human consumption.

                James Maryanski, the FDA's biotechnology coordinator,
                repeated the government's view that labels are not needed
                on foods made from GM crops unless the nutritional
                content was changed or an allergen introduced.

                "For example, if a tomato had a soybean gene introduced
                into it, labeling would be needed to alert consumers to the
                presence of the potential allergen, unless it could be
                demonstrated scientifically that the soybean allergen was
                not present," Maryanski told the Senate panel.

                In recent weeks, several non-U.S. companies that make
                baby food, beer and other foods announced they would halt
                purchases of GM crops because of consumer concerns
                over untested long-term health or environmental impacts.

                Last month, grain giant Archer Daniels Midland Co told its
                suppliers that they must begin separating GM crops from
                conventional ones to meet consumer demands.

                Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman earlier this year urged
                companies to consider adopting voluntary labels on GM
                foods to give consumers more information.

                "We believe that Americans want that label," said Mark
                Silbergeld of the Consumers Union, an activist group.
                "Powerful interests within the biotechnology, agriculture and
                food industries are working hard to prevent mandatory
                labelling."

                Although Kucinich's bill has little chance of mustering
                enough bipartisan support for passage any time soon, it
                seems certain to focus more attention on the debate over
                GM food.

                One congressional aide likened it to the U.S. law requiring
                nutritional labels on all foods, a bill that was passed 
                in 1994 after a decade-long battle.

                "The technology is changing faster than the legislative
                process can respond," the aide said. "The food industry
                may become more interested in making changes on their
                own once they see a bill introduced."

                The issue of labels on foods made with GM crops is a
                ticklish one for farm state lawmakers.

                American farmers have eagerly embraced GM crops in
                hopes of boosting yields, reducing pesticides and
                commanding higher prices for their commodities. GM
                varieties account for about half of this year's U.S. soybean
                and cotton crops, and about one-third of the corn harvest.

                But U.S. growers are heavily dependent on foreign sales,
                and a consumer backlash could shut them out of export
                markets.

                Large U.S. food companies oppose mandatory labels for
                GM products, saying that better consumer education is the
                answer.

                A coalition of American food and farm groups, the Alliance
                for Better Foods, launched an Internet web site on Thursday
                to provide information about the benefits of bioengineered
                crops.


                Story by Julie Vorman 


                REUTERS NEWS SERVICE