South Africa: Draft amendments to labeling GM food

GM crops have been grown in South Africa since 1999, Digital Journal reports, but most consumers are largely unaware that their maize has been genetically modified. GM soya and cotton are also grown in South Africa, and a significant amount of foodstuffs on the supermarket shelves now contain GM components or ingredients.

The food industry in South Africa has taken the view that current GM labelling laws are ambiguous and do not apply to processed foods. Now, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) published draft amendments to regulations governing the labeling of genetically modified food in South Africa.

According to these draft amendments, all imported or locally produced food which contains 5 % or more genetically modified components or ingredients, must now be labeled as "contains genetically modified ingredients or components". The Director of the African Centre for Biosafety (ACB), Mariam Mayet, congratulated the DTI, but also express disappointment that labeling will only apply if there is 5% or more GM content. This threshold is reportedly based purely on commercial considerations and not on any scientific measure. The draft amendments are open for public comment up to 9 November 2012.

Digital Journal