Chinese lawmakers are considering a proposed law to require labeling of all foods that contain genetically modified organisms, says China Daily. The draft, being discussed during a one-week session that ends on Sunday, “does not specify details of the labeling procedure,” it says, describing a more receptive atmosphere in China for GMO crops such as corn and soybeans. China Daily quoted a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences as saying the country has regulations but not a statute for GMO labeling and application of the regulations was incomplete. The story said Japan, South Korea and the European Union require labeling and the United States does not.
GMO labeling is one of a number of proposed revisions to China’s Food Safety Law, said Xinhua. “While mandatory labeling protects consumers’ right to know, more specific labeling rules are needed,” it said, and quoted agriculture expert Xu Weigang as saying labels might confuse the public, which knows little about the technique. “‘Labelling does not mean that genetically modified foods are unsafe, but the public might not see it that way,’ Xu said. Producers should include brief details of genetic modifications to let consumers make more informed choices,” said the article.