Grocers Want Biotech Foods Held to Science Standards

March 13, 2000

The Grocery Manufacturers of America says international standards on food safety and trade should not be undermined by the European Union’s desire to "de-emphasize scientific principles as the basis for decision making."

Stacey Zawel, GMA vice president, scientific and regulatory policy, said the Codex Alimentarius Commission must resist calls by EU nations to "subvert science as the key determinant in its decision making process." Codex, she said, has been named the "competent authority" for standard-setting by the World Trade Organization.

"A group of Codex member states, led by the European Union, wants to undermine the foundation of science in setting Codex standards," said Zawel. "They want economic, cultural, animal welfare and other factors that are not relevant to consumer health or fair trade to drive the Codex process. This move is a disguised form of protectionism that the U.S. food and consumer products industry vigorously opposes."

Codex’s statement of principles authorizing consideration of "other legitimate factors" make very clear the limited scop intended for such factors by stating they still must be "relevant for the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair practices in food trade," said Zawel.