We don`t know enough about it. For that reason the Nordic Council now calls for GMO-free zones and tighter labelling of GMO products in the Nordic Region.
Setting up GMO-free zones in the Nordic countries could give the region a competitive advantage by producing organic GMO-free products. Moreover it will give the Nordic consumers the opportunity to make conscious consumer choices, as long as the products they buy are properly labelled.
Therefore, the Nordic Council at its Session in Helsinki on Wednesday 29 October agreed that the Nordic governments should report on the opportunities for tightening current norms and regulations for the labelling of GMO products.
"There is considerable anxiety about what GMO manipulated food may lead to", said Elina Linna, one of the proposers from the Citizens` and Consumer Committee in the Nordic Council.
The use of GMO in food and fodder is partially regulated by the EU today, with the exception of certain animal products manufactured with the help of GMO. This means that food manufactured with the help of GMO is labelled but food such as eggs, meat and milk from animals that have eaten GMO fodder is not labelled.
Since there is not enough knowledge on whether animals fed with GMO fodder are affected by their diet or not, nor whether people are affected by eating food from animals that have eaten GMO fodder, it is important for Nordic consumers to have the chance to avoid such products.
"Labelling must be tightened" said Finnish Ville Niinistö, chair of the Citizens` and Consumers Committee during the debate on Wednesday.
The Council also encourages the Nordic governments to work with the EU to approve the establishment of GMO free zones.
CONTACT:Silje Bergum Kinsten
siki@norden.org+45 21 71 71 56
