A4-0181/98

Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC (COM(98)0099 - C4-0227/98 - 98/0811(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 13

>Original text>

13. Whereas at this stage the presence in foods and food ingredients of DNA resulting from genetic modification constitutes the criterion best complying with the above-mentioned requirements; whereas such an approach should be reconsidered in the light of future developments in scientific knowledge;

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13.

Whereas at this stage the presence in foods and food ingredients of protein or DNA resulting from genetic modification constitutes the criterion best complying with the above- mentioned requirements; whereas such an approach should be reconsidered in the light of future developments in scientific knowledge;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 14

>Original text>

14. Whereas foods and food ingredients produced from genetically modified soya beans (Glycine max L.) or from genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.), in which DNA resulting from genetic modification is present, are not equivalent and therefore are subject to labelling requirements;

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14.

Whereas foods and food ingredients produced from genetically modified soya beans (Glycine max L.) or from genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.), in which protein or DNA resulting from genetic modification is present, are not equivalent and therefore are subject to labelling requirements;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 18

>Original text>

18. Whereas, with regard to foods and food ingredients which are intended to be placed on the market to be supplied to the final consumer, and which may contain both genetically modified and conventional produce, and without prejudice to the other labelling requirements of this Regulation, information for the consumer on the possibility that genetically modified produce may be present in the foods and food ingredients concerned is deemed - by way of exception, in particular as regards bulk consignments - to fulfill the requirements of this Regulation;

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Deleted

(Amendment 4)

Recital 20a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

20a. Whereas chance contamination of foodstuffs with protein or DNA resulting from genetic modification cannot be excluded; whereas the labelling problem resulting from this contamination could be avoided by setting a de minimis threshold for the detection of protein and DNA below which a product would be considered to be unmodified;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 20b (new)

>Original text>

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20b. Whereas urgent consideration will be given, in consultation with the Scientific Committee for Food, to the question of whether a de minimis threshold for the presence of DNA or protein resulting from genetic modification can be set and, if so, at what level;

(Amendment 6)

Article 2(2)

>Original text>

2. However, foods and food ingredients referred to in the first paragraph in which DNA resulting from genetic modification is not present shall not be subject to the specific labelling requirements, unless there are proteins resulting from genetic modification present.

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2.

However, foods and food ingredients referred to in the first paragraph in which neither protein nor DNA resulting from genetic modification are present shall not be subject to the specific labelling requirements. Accordingly, soya oils and maize oils, produced other than by cold pressing, and ingredients derived from these products and products produced from hydrolyzed maize starch shall not be subject to the specific labelling requirements. In view of the rapid progress being made in testing and analysis techniques, this list shall be subject to technical adaptation according to the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Directive 79/112/EEC.

(Amendment 7)

Article 2(3)(a)

>Original text>

(a) Where the food consists of more than one ingredient, the words 'produced from genetically modified soya¨ or 'produced from genetically modified maize¨, as appropriate, shall appear in the list of ingredients, provided for by Article 6 of Directive 79/112/EEC in parentheses immediately after the name of the ingredient concerned. Alternatively, these words may appear in a prominently displayed footnote to the list of ingredients which has a typeface of at least the same size as the list of ingredients itself.

>Text following EP vote>

(a)

Where the food consists of more than one ingredient, the words 'produced from genetically modified soya¨ or 'produced from genetically modified maize¨, as appropriate, shall appear in the list of ingredients, provided for by Article 6 of Directive 79/112/EEC in parentheses immediately after the name of the ingredient concerned. Alternatively, these words may appear in a prominently displayed footnote to the list of ingredients which has a typeface of at least the same size as the list of ingredients itself. Where an ingredient is already listed as being produced from soya or maize the words 'produced from genetically modified¨ may be abbreviated to 'genetically modified¨; if the abbreviated form of words is used as a footnote it must be related by means of an asterisk (*) to the ingredient concerned, the asterisk being directly attached to the word 'soya¨ or 'maize¨.

(Amendment 8)

Article 2(3)(c)

>Original text>

(c) Where in accordance with the provisions of the first indent of sub paragraph (b) of paragraph 5 of Article 6 of Directive 79/112/EEC an ingredient is designated by the name of a category, that designation shall be completed by the words 'contains" or 'may contain [ingredients] produced from genetically modified soya/genetically modified maize¨, as appropriate.

>Text following EP vote>

(c)

Where in accordance with the provisions of the first indent of sub paragraph (b) of paragraph 5 of Article 6 of Directive 79/112/EEC an ingredient is designated by the name of a category, that designation shall be completed by the words 'contains [ingredients] produced from genetically modified soya/genetically modified maize¨, as appropriate.

(Amendment 9)

Article 2(3)(e)

>Original text>

(e) By way of exception, where the presence in foods and food ingredients, of genetically modified produce subject to the labelling provisions of points (a) or (d), cannot be excluded but where no evidence of it is available, the use of the terms 'may contain¨ or 'may have been produced from¨ shall be considered to fulfill the requirements of those points.

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Deleted

(Amendment 10)

Article 2a (new)

>Original text>

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Article 2a

The Commission shall call upon the Scientific Committee for Food to examine, before 31 December 1998, the practicality of setting a de minimis threshold for modified protein or DNA, below which a product would be considered to be unmodified and, if necessary, forward adequate proposals.

(Amendment 11)

Article 4a (new)

>Original text>

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Article 4a

The Commission shall bring forward without delay an equivalent legislative proposal to give practical effect to the labelling of novel food and food ingredients as foreseen in Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC (COM(98)0099 - C4-0227/98 - 98/0811(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs ((OJ L 33, 18.2.1979, p. 1.)), and in particular Articles 4(2) and 17 thereof,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0099 - 98/0811(CNS),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to paragraph 5 of the 'modus vivendi¨ of 20 December 1994 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission concerning the implementing measures for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the EC Treaty ((OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 1.)) (C4-0227/98),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0181/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.