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Traceability and labelling
The EU’s policy on GMO traceability and labelling is designed to ensure that genetically modified organisms and products derived from them can be tracked throughout the supply chain and clearly identified on the market. Traceability is meant to support monitoring of possible effects on health and the environment and, where necessary, to make it possible to withdraw products if an unexpected risk is detected.
Under this system, all operators in the chain — such as farmers, food producers and feed producers — must be able to identify from whom they received a GMO product and to whom they supplied it. They must pass on this information in writing, including whether the product contains, consists of, or is obtained from GMOs, and the relevant unique identifiers for those GMOs. They must also keep these records for five years after each transaction.
The labelling rules are intended to give consumers clear information and allow them to make an informed choice. For pre-packaged GM food or feed, the label must state “genetically modified” or “produced from genetically modified [name of the organism]”. For non-packaged products, the same information must still appear clearly close to the product, for example on a shelf notice. These requirements do not apply where the GMO presence is no higher than 0.9% of each ingredient and is adventitious or technically unavoidable.
The page also notes that “GM-free” labelling schemes exist in some cases on a voluntary basis. These labels are allowed as long as they are not misleading for consumers, and the Commission has examined whether further harmonisation may be needed through a final report on GM-free food labelling schemes.
Under this system, all operators in the chain — such as farmers, food producers and feed producers — must be able to identify from whom they received a GMO product and to whom they supplied it. They must pass on this information in writing, including whether the product contains, consists of, or is obtained from GMOs, and the relevant unique identifiers for those GMOs. They must also keep these records for five years after each transaction.
The labelling rules are intended to give consumers clear information and allow them to make an informed choice. For pre-packaged GM food or feed, the label must state “genetically modified” or “produced from genetically modified [name of the organism]”. For non-packaged products, the same information must still appear clearly close to the product, for example on a shelf notice. These requirements do not apply where the GMO presence is no higher than 0.9% of each ingredient and is adventitious or technically unavoidable.
The page also notes that “GM-free” labelling schemes exist in some cases on a voluntary basis. These labels are allowed as long as they are not misleading for consumers, and the Commission has examined whether further harmonisation may be needed through a final report on GM-free food labelling schemes.
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