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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

Ref : EIC 230/4

16 March 2000

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 38/00

European Union (EU) : Regulation on Labelling of Foodstuffs
Containing Genetically Modified (GM) Ingredients

DETAILS

The European Commission (EC) has set a tolerance level of 1% beyond which compulsory labelling is required for foodstuffs containing GM ingredients.

  1. The Council of the EU adopted in May 1998 a regulation requiring compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). The regulation applies to food and food ingredients (the specified foodstuffs) which are to be delivered to the final consumer, produced in whole or in part from genetically modified soya beans or genetically modified maize. The specified foodstuffs must be labelled as containing GM ingredients in the required format if they contain protein or DNA resulting from genetic modification.
     
  2. Recognising that accidental contamination of foodstuffs with protein or DNA resulting from genetical modification cannot be excluded, the EC has recently amended the regulation setting a tolerance level of 1% for adventitious presence of GM ingredients in the specified foodstuffs. The 1% tolerance level refers to the presence of GM materials in each food ingredient of the specified foodstuffs. To establish that the presence of GM ingredients is accidental, manufacturers and traders must be able to supply evidence to satisfy the competent authorities that they have taken appropriate steps to avoid using GMOs or GM ingredients in their product.
     
  3. The labelling requirement has also been extended to food and food ingredients which are to be delivered to mass caterers, such as restaurants, hospitals and canteens. The amended regulation will enter into force on 10 April 2000.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

 

(Miss Helen YUNG)

for Director-General of Trade



Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.