Genetically Modified Food Labelling

Who regulates the labelling of GM foods in Singapore?

- AVA regulates the labelling of all food in Singapore.
- Currently, AVA is reviewing the requirement on labelling of GM food with the Genetic Modification Advisory Committe (GMAC).


GMAC?
- A national committee established in 1999.
- Its objectives:
~ to oversee and advise on the research and development, production, use, handling and
release of GMOs in Singapore, ensuring that these are done in compliance with
international standards.
- Comprises of members from government statutory boards, Ministries and the hospitals.

Why are foods produced from GMOs not labelled in Singapore?

- Regulation on GM food labelling has not yet been formalised.
- So Singapore will align herself with the international guidelines on GM foods labelling.
- Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), an authority in food safety, formed by World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation will establish the guidelines.


Source: http://www.ava.gov.sg/FoodSector/FoodLabelingAdvertisement


General Labelling Requirements

For the purposes of labelling, the standard defines GM food as follows:
‘genetically modified food means food that is, or contains as an ingredient, including a processing
aid, a food produced using gene technology which
- contains novel DNA and/or novel protein
- has altered characteristics;

but does not include
- highly refined food, other than that with altered characteristics, where the effect of the refining process is to remove novel DNA and/or novel protein
- a processing aid or food additive, except where novel DNA and/or novel protein from the processing aid or food additive remains present in the food to which it has been added
- flavours present in the food in a concentration no more than 1 g/kg
- a food, ingredient, or processing aid in which genetically modified food is unintentionally present in a quantity of no more than 10 g/kg per ingredient.’

Examples:

• a product such as soy flour is required to be labelled if it is derived from GM soybeans.
• a highly refined oil, such as GM soybean oil, is not required to be labelled because it contains no DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or protein, and is chemically identical to conventional soybean oil.

Additional Labelling and Information Requirements

- composition or nutritional values
- antinutritional factors or natural toxicants
- factors known to cause allergic responses in particular sections of the population
- its intended use

may be specified on a case-by-case basis for any GM food with altered characteristics or where the GM food raises significant ethical, cultural and religious concerns with respect to genetic modification.

Source: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/GM%20Foods_text_pp_final.pdf