The European Union has developed a proposal
to allow foods that have up to 0.9% genetically modified material to be sold with labels that confirm them as
organic. The EU says that this measure, which would go into effect by 2009, is being proposed to protect
organic farmers against the "risk of GM contamination." The commissioner for agriculture and rural
development claimed that this move would make it easier for consumers to identify organic products, presumably by
making them more similar to non-organic items.
Current guidelines stipulate that organic products cannot contain genetically modified substances "in any quantity." Environmental and organic groups are protesting the action, saying that "organic" labeled products should contain no more than 0.1% GM material, the lowest amount that can be detected both reliably and consistently. The EU should support organic farming, but not by lowering the standards of the industry.
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