The UK Government advisory committee on GE foods has agreed to reexamine the labelling issue. Separation of genetically engineered crops from their natural counterparts is a sine qua non of any labelling policy and any credible effort to trace health hazards as they arise. The EU itself took a long time to respond unambiguously to concerns of its member states over health hazards, but has now come out in favour of mandatory labelling including a health warning. The Netherlands, Spain, and Denmark have introduced separate regulations requiring compulsory labelling of foods containing GE Soybeans. In Switzerland, a referendum is taking place.
Similar moves are in preparation in France, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Iceland, and Norway.
France has banned the sowing of genetically modified maize by French farmers. The Austrian Government has banned the import and sale of genetically modified maize and is legally challenging EU regulations permitting GE foods. Food giant Kraft Jacobs Suchard foods have joined a very very long list of European food retailers and manufacturers that will not use any genetically modified soybeans in their products. Others have committed themselves to labelling all foods containing genetically modified ingredients. All this means that massive new markets have opened up for products that can be guaranteed free of genetic engineering.