TWN Info Service on Free Trade Agreements

13 June 2007


Malaysia’s GMO Labelling Stance and US Pressure

The Malaysian government recently has announced that the labeling of GM products will remain mandatory under the new Biosafety Bill, which is expected to be passed in parliament soon.

This comes in the midst of pressure by certain parties, especially in the negotiations for the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement, to drop mandatory labelling for GM products and foods, which they claim will jeopardize the export prospects of US biotechnology companies. The Biotechnology Industry Organisation, for instance, has openly called on the US Trade Representative (USTR) to reject mandatory labelling in the US-Malaysia FTA negotiations.

The Biosafety Bill which had already gone through a first reading in the Malaysian Parliament was scheduled for a substantive discussion and to be passed in a second reading last month. However, it was surprisingly postponed, and it is now expected to be considered in the June parliamentary session.

Malaysia’s experience is shared by many others in the developing world which constantly come under pressures by the biotechnology industry and the USTR for them to have weak biosafety regulations and particularly to not require mandatory labelling of GMOs and GM products.

The statement below by the Consumers’ Association of Penang and Friends of the Earth Malaysia (SAM), two NGOs in Malaysia, calls on the Malaysian government to maintain its stance on GMO labeling and not buckle under US pressure.



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(http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Letters/20070530081151/Article/index_html)

New Straits Times, 2007/05/30

Biosafety Bill: Sound reasons for the label

By : S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS for Consumers Association of Penang & Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)

THE Consumers’ Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia welcome the announcement by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid that the labelling of products containing genetically modified (GM) organisms will remain mandatory under the new Biosafety Bill, which is expected to be passed in parliament soon.

We laud the assurance by the minister that the government will not compromise on the interests of Malaysia and its people.

We understand that the Malaysian government was being pressured by certain parties, especially in the negotiations for the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement, to drop mandatory labelling for GM products and foods, which would allegedly interfere with market access opportunities for US biotechnology companies.

However, from the perspective of the consumer, mandatory labelling for GM foods and products is important so that consumers can choose whether or not they want to consume or use GM food or products.

In addition, there may be unintended effects of GM organisms (GMOs), such as potential allergenic effects. Labelling would let consumers know the GM content of the food, and would serve to warn those who have health concerns.


Labelling would also serve to inform consumers about GM content, particularly those who may have religious, ethical or moral concerns.

Labelling would also push exporting countries to segregate their GM and non-GM crops, shifting the burden to exporter countries, rather than to importing countries like Malaysia, to detect and identify GMO shipments.

As it stands, more than 40 countries around the world, including China, Japan, Australia and most European nations, already require mandatory labelling of GM foods.

Under the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the joint WHO/FAO body regulating international food standards, the Committee on Food Labelling has been discussing a global standard for mandatory GM food labelling. The draft standard on GM labelling has support from a majority of the Committee, including Malaysia.

We also urge the government to stand firm on other provisions of the Biosafety Bill, as this is the enabling law that allows for the regulation of activities related to GMOs and their products, including release, import, export and contained use.

It is underpinned by a precautionary approach (where there are threats of irreversible damage, lack of full scientific evidence may not be used as a reason not to take action to prevent such damage), in keeping with Malaysia’s obligations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Malaysia has ratified the Cartagena Protocol, which is the main international law specifically regulating genetic engineering and GMOs. The Precautionary Principle is the basis of the Protocol.

In the light of the above, we urge the government to expedite the Biosafety Bill and not give in to pressure from the US biotechnology companies.

The health and environmental safety of Malaysians should prevail over the profits of these biotechnology companies.