NDP proposal for GMO labeling

 

Now that the United States Senate has passed a bill setting out GMO labeling standards, it’s time for the Canadian Parliament to grapple with the same issue.

NDP MP Pierre-Luc Duseault of Quebec has introduced a bill, but unlike the voluntary approach in the United States, his bill would make GMO labeling mandatory.
He has support from the Organic Council of Ontario whose chairman, Tom Manley, said that if genetic engineering is such a good idea, then food companies should be glad to put it on their labels.

But opponents say there is no health or safety reason to label GMO ingredients in foods because they are no different than other ingredients that have not been genetically engineered. 
Indeed, one of the Health Canada requirements is that GMO crops be equivalent in nutrition and safety.

I think it would make just as much sense to require that ingredients be labeled a grown with the help of sunshine and rain.
 
Canada Organic Trade Association spokesperson Tia Loftsgard says they’re working with the MP to ensure the proper wording is used in the bill to reflect the need for mandatory labelling of genetically engineered ingredients.