Food
	Land
	and Culture

	Presentation Summary
	Lac Courte Oreilles Casino and Convention Center Oct 3-4, 2002
	Genetically Engineered Food Labeling: Consumers, Policies and Trade
	Lydia Zepeda Professor, Consumer Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison
	Consumer opinion polls indicate a consistently high level of support for labeling genetically engineered (GE) food products in various countries around the world. However, governments differ in their policies towards labeling of GE foods. The governments of countries producing large amounts of GE crops do not support mandatory labeling of these foods. In contrast, the governments of most of the rest of the developed and middle-income countries have implemented or are considering mandatory labeling of GE food. Among these countries, there are policy variations based on threshold levels of GE material and whether the foods are used for human consumption or contain sufficient genetic material (such as oil). Among middle- and low-income countries, some governments have imposed or are proposing bans on GE food imports as an alternative or precursor to a labeling and certification program. Most poor countries appear to have no policies regarding GE food labeling, although some food aid recipients have complained about dumping of GE food and have even gone so far as to ban GE food aid. These policies have profound implications for world trade and food aid as well as for the politics of world trade negotiations. This paper explores GE food labeling policies of different countries as well as the rationale and motivations for these perspectives. The implications for trade and trade negotiations are discussed. An argument for consistent international standards to facilitate food trade and aid is discussed.
	From The University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension
	Sponsored by a grant from USDA/CSREES/IFAFS
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