Research On GM Food Labeling Legalization In International Trade

The developing and spreading of Genetically Modified Food (GMF) produce tremendous profits in food industry and hidden scientific risks as well. Since there is no definite evidence that can prove that GMF causes damages to environment or human health, governments tend to strengthen regulatory mechanisms for food safety and more and more consumers become aware of their rights which is called ’the right to know’. Thus GM food labeling system, which is a necessary guard to food risks, turns up to be a good choice for authorities.However, no matter how practical the labeling system is, some world trade bodies shall be great contrast to each other when talking about label’s implementing and enforcement. The United States is one of the opposite countries stand against compulsory label on GMFs. U.S. accuses EU’s labeling system which offers comprehensive legal regulating on GMF is indeed a trade barrier, whether it claims common protection or not. It can be analyzed that U.S. and EU’s debate of label results from their interest conflicts in GMF trade. As for American companies, they are trying to achieve monopolization on GMF through their dominant position on agriculture and GM technology. They discuss that GMF label will cut down transactions so they protest any limit to GMF importing.Objectively speaking, GM food labeling system does affect food trade in some detrimental ways, and single technique rules or biosecurity law made the binding to labeling even worse. Because of this negative impression, WTO takes a careful attitude towards GM labeling. We can see there are a lot of problems in these rules, such as scattered contents and unclearly definitions. In this way, current labeling rules under WTO is merely a formalism that could du no favour to GM labeling legalization. On the other hand, by emphasizing too much on ecology protection that Cartagena Protocal on Biosafety (BSP) values most, most multilateral environmental treaties have gone to a so fantastic legal type that cannot be able to come to reality. Besides, when current treaties try to solve the problem about how to label GMF, they all ignore consumers’ rights. That’s why international GMF labeling law still cannot be brought out. We agree that GM food labeling is not a trade barrier, but the reason why re-designing a new food labeling system is an urgent issue is because such kind of label measure could be misapplied easily. Then a serious difficulties should be solved as precondition: First, label model and basic princilals should be established. Second, we shall make it clear that what is the ’scientific basis’ and where the limits are. At last, liability rules shall be added as well. Above all, GM food labeling legislature means reducing label measures’ adverse consequences to a certain degree. And label should be regarded as a safety guard instead of a trade controlling tool.In China, citizens and our media are paying more and more attention to food safety. Experts believe that GM food labeling can help food industry make a better improvement and protect consumers’rights and health at the same time. There have been statutes for labeling since2002, but the low level and too simple regulations make it hard to satisfy today’s technology and food trade. So we can divide its adjusting into four steps:First, violating obligations which government has committed in treaties is forbidden. Second, government shall make efforts on keeping balance between free trade and administration, GMF popularizing and food safety, business development and protection of consumers’ right to know. Based on these, some rules and methods from developed countries such as EU and Japan, may be applied in Chinese GM food safety supervising, which makes it possible for Chinese authorities to design a more practical independent procedure. Meantime, propaganda is necessary because knowledge spreading take an important part in helping normal people understand GMF and GM food labeling better. More public acceptance, more positive effects that label shall plays and less harm could happen. In conclusion, though the road for Chinese GM food labeling legalization is still very long, we have confidence in this gradual deepening progress. The ideal system will be built step by step in the future.