COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 25.02.1998 
COM(1998)99final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
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 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. On 19 September 1997, the Commission adopted Regulation n° 1813/97 concerning 
the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from 
gcnetically modificd organisms of particulars other than those provided for in 
Directive79/112/EEC. 
2. This Commission Regulation applics to the labelling of foods and food ingrcdients 
produced from gcnetically modificd soyabcans and gcnetically modificd maize 
which were granted consent under Dircctivc 90/220/EEC bcforc the cnlry into force 
of the Novel Foods Regulation. It was publishcd in the Official Journal on 20.09.97, 
and entered into force on 1 November 1997. 
3. Regulation (CE) n° 1813/97 was adopted on the basis of article 4(2) of Directive 
79/112/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the 
labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs 
4. In the interest of consumer proteclion, in order to ensure fair conditions of 
competition within the internal market, and in view of the need to ensure a coherent 
Community policy for foods produced from biotechnology, it was considered 
necessary to ensure that labelling rulcs for the information of the final consumer 
based on the samc principlcs apply to foods and food ingrcdients produced from 
OMOs which havc bccn placcd on the market bcforc the cnlry into force oi' 
Regulation (EC) n° 258/97 pursuant to a consent given under Dircctivc 90/220/EEC, 
and to foods and food ingrcdients which arc placcd on the market thercafter. 
5. In order to achieve this goal, the first step, implcmenlcd by the aforementioned 
Regulation (CE) n° 1813/97, consisted in requiring that the same provisions as those 
laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (CE) n° 258/97 apply to foods and food 
ingredients produced from genetically modificd soyabeans covered by Decision 
96/281/EC and genetically modified maize covered by Decision 97/98/EC. 
6. However, laying down general labelling rules for the aforementioned products is not 
sufficient in order to clarify which soya or maize products have to be labelled, and, 
when so, how. In order to achieve this rcsult, it is also necessary, as a second step, 
drawing on the approach taken in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) N° 258/97, to lay 
down detailed uniform Community rules. 
As a matter of fact, Article 3 of Regulation (CE) n° 1813/97 itsclf alrcady laid down 
that "Detailed uniform Community rules for the labelling of the foodstuffs refcned 
to in Article 1 shall be adopted as soon as possible." 
7. The measures proposed in the attachcd proposal for a Regulation constitutc the 
detailed uniform Community rules announccd in Article 3 of Regulation (CE) 
n° 1813/97. 
oi 
Proposal for 
Council Regulation (EC) N°..../ 97 of.... 
concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of ccrtain foodstuffs 
produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those 
provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
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 foodstuffs1, as last amended by Directive 97/4/EC of the European 
Parliament and of the Council2, and in particular Article 4(2) thereof; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
1. Whereas, in accordance with the provisions of Part C of Council Directive 
90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the deliberate release into Ihe environment of 
genetically modified organisms3, consents have been given for the placing on the 
market of certain genetically modified products by Commission Decision 96/281/EC 
of 3 April 1996 concerning the placing on the market of genetically modified soya 
beans (Glycine max L.) with increased tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate pursuant 
to Council Directive 90/220/EEC4, and by Commission Decision 97/98/EC of 23 
January 1997 concerning the placing on the market of genetically modified maize 
(Zea mays L.) with the combined modification for insecticidal properties conferred 
by the Bt-endotoxin gene and increased tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate 
ammonium pursuant to Council Directive 90/220/EEC5; 
2. Whereas in accordance with Directive 90/220/EEC there have been no safely 
grounds for mentioning on the label of genetically modified soya beans ((ilycine 
max L) or of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) that they have been obtained 
by genetic modification techniques; 
3. Whereas Directive 90/220/EEC does not cover non-viable products derived from 
genetically modified organisms (hereinafter referred to as "GMOs"); 
OJn°L33, 8.2.1979, p. I.. ^ 
OJn°L43, 14.2.1997, p. 21 
OJn°L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15 
OJn"L 107, 30.4.1996, p. 10 
OJnr L3I, 1.2.1997, p. 69 
3 
4. Whereas certain Member States have taken measures in respect of the labelling of 
foods and food ingredients produced from the products concerned; whereas 
differences between those measures are liable to impede the free movement of those 
foods and food ingredients and thereby adversely affect the functioning of the 
internal market; whereas it is therefore necessary to adopt uniform Community 
labelling rules for the products concerned; 
5. Whereas European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) N° 258/97 of 27 
January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients6, lays down, in 
Article 8, additional specific labelling requirements in order to ensure proper 
information for the final consumer; whereas these additional specific labelling 
requirements do not apply to foods and food ihgredients which have been used for 
human consumption to a significant degree within the Community before the entry 
into force of Regulation (EC) N° 258/97 and are not for this reason considered to be 
novel; 
6. Whereas, in order to prevent distortions of competition, labelling rules for the 
inlbrmation of the final consumer based on the same principles should apply to foods 
and food ingredients consisting of or derived from GMOs which have been placed on 
the market before the entry into force of Regulation (EC) N° 258/97 pursuant to a 
consent given under Directive 90/220/EEC, and to foods and food ingredients which 
are placed on the market thereafter; 
7. Whereas, therefore, Commission Regulation (EC) N° 1813/97 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/EEC7 has laid down general labelling rules for the above-
mentioned products; 
8. Whereas it is now urgent to lay down detailed uniform Community rules for the 
labelling of the foodstuffs covered by Regulation (EC) N° 1813/97; 
9. Whereas, in particular, drawing on the approach taken in Article 8 of Regulation 
(EC) N° 258/97, it is necessary to ensure that the final consumer is informed of any 
characteristic or food property, such as composition, nutritional value or nutritional 
effects or the intended use of the food, which renders a food or food ingredient no 
longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient; whereas, for this purpose, 
foods and food ingredients produced from genetically modified soya beans or from 
genetically modified maize which are not equivalent to conventional counterparts 
should be subject to labelling requirements; 
10. Whereas, drawing on the approach taken in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) N° 258/97, 
it is necessary that labelling requirements are based on scientific evaluation; 
11. Whereas it is necessary to establish clear labelling rules for the above-mentioned 
products, allowing official contrql on a reliable, readily repeatable and practicable 
basis; whereas common scientifically validated testing methods should be developed. 
OJn°L43, 14.2.1997, p. 1 
OJ n° L 257, 20.9.97 p.7 
4 
12. Whereas it is also necessary to ensure that the labelling requirements are no more 
burdensome than necessary but sufficiently detailed to supply consumers with the 
information they require. 
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 could be reconsidered in the 
light of future developments in scientific knowledge; 
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 ; 
15. Whereas it is possible that DNA resulting from genetic modification has been 
destroyed by successive stages of processing ; whereas, in that case, foods and food 
ingredients should be considered equivalent for labelling purposes; whereas they are 
therefore not subject to labelling requirements; 
16. Whereas nevertheless some processing methods may eliminate DNA but not 
proteins; whereas it cannot be excluded that such methods can be applied to food 
uses ; whereas foods and food ingredients in which DNA resulting from genetic 
modification is not present but in which there are proteins resulting from genetic 
modification present, cannot be considered to be equivalent; whereas therefore, they 
are subject to labelling requirements. 
17. Whereas the necessary information should be provided in the list of ingredients 
except in the case of products for which no such list exists, in which case it should 
appear clearly on the labelling of the product; 
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 fulfil the requirements of this Regulation. 
19. Whereas this Regulation is without prejudice to the operators' right to include 
voluntary claims in the labels of their products as to particulars other than those laid 
down in this Regulation (such as the absence of foods and food ingredients produced 
from genetically modified soyabeans and maize, or the presence of such foods and 
food ingredients in cases where it is not scientifically verifiable but evidence of it is 
available through other means), provided such claims are made in compliance with 
the provisions of Directive 79/112/EEC. 
20. Whereas, having regard to the scope and effects of the proposed action, the 
Community measures introduced by this Regulation are not only necessary but 
essential if the objectives set are to be attained; whereas those objectives cannot be 
attained by the Member States acting individually; 
21. Whereas this Regulation replaces Regulation (EC) N° 1813/97 which should 
therefore be repealed; 
22. Whereas in pursuance of the procedure laid down in Article 17 of directive 
79/112/EEC, this text was submitted to the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs, 
which was unable to deliver an opinion, and whereas in accordance with that same 
procedure the Commission is required to address a proposal to the Council, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION 
Arlicle l 
1. This Regulation shall apply to foods and food ingredients which are to be delivered 
as such to the final consumer (hereinafter referred to as "the specified foodstuffs") 
produced, in whole or in part, from: 
genetically modified soya beans covered by Decision 96/281/EC; 
genetically modified maize covered by Decision 97/98/EC. 
2. This Regulation shall not apply to food additives, flavourings for use in foodstuffs or 
extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs as referred to in Article 2(1) 
of Regulation (EC) N° 258/97. 
Article 2 
1. The specified foodstuffs shall be subject to the additional specific labelling 
requirements laid down in paragraph 3 of this article. 
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 
Iabelling requirements, unless there are proteins resulting from genetic modification 
present. 
3. The specific labelling requirements referred to in paragraph 1 are the following: 
(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. 
(b) In the case of products for which no list of ingredients exists, the words 
"produced from genetically modified soya" or "produced from genetically 
modified maize", as appropriate, shall appear clearly on the labelling of the 
food. 
£ 
(c) Where in accordancc 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. 
(d) Where an ingredient of a compound ingredient is derived from the specified 
foodstuffs, it shall be mentioned on the labelling of the final product, with the 
addition of the wording shown in point (b). 
(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) to 
(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 
fulfil the requirements of those points. 
4. The first, second and third paragraphs shall be without prejudice to the other 
requirements of Community law concerning the labelling of foodstuffs. 
Article 3 
Regulation (EC) 1813/97 is hereby repealed. 
Article 4 
The labelling requirements of this Regulation shall not apply to products which have 
been lawfully manufactured and labelled in the Community, or which have been lawfully 
imported into the Community and put into free circulation, before the entry into force of 
this Regulation. 
Article 5 
This Regulation shall enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal 
of the European Community. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
States. 
Done at, 
For the Council 
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ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 99 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 10 15 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-104-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-31295-9 
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