| Japan is Australia's key canola market and if GM is introduced, there is a requirement to adopt a strict quality assurance scheme to ensure all efforts have been undertaken to prevent contamination with GM products. This is an expensive added burden to existing non-GM farmers.
Details of label requirements can be found (here)
Genetically modified (GM) foods, which have been authorized after assessing its safety by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, are obligated to label such as genetically modified etc. when they are sold.
Quality labeling standard for genetically modified foods (PDF) regulates the food items for labeling and the way to label.
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Food items for mandatory labeling |
Food items subject to mandatory GM-labeling are designated for those in which genetically modified DNA or proteins derived from this DNA are detectable even after the processing, or those whose composition or nutritional quality has been altered from those of the conventional product, in Quality labeling standard for genetically modified foods.
Currently, 5 farm products and these processed foods has been designated as subject of mandatory labeling. Based on the state of commercialization of new GM foods and new findings on detection methods, those items are reexamined every year.
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Labeling scheme for GM foods |
When it has been ensured that the product consists or contains GM products through identity preserved handling (IP-handling), it has to be labeled, such as "Soy beans (Genetically Modified)", etc.
In the case that IP-handling has not be conducted for the products, it has to be labeled, such as "Soy beans ( no segregation practice with genetically modified products)", etc.
In addition to mandatory labeling, if it has been assured that the product does not contain GM products through IP-handling, the products can be labeled as "Soybeans (non-GM)", or "This product does not contain genetically modified organisms", etc.
"IP-handling" means handling GM or non-GM separately in each stages of production, distribution and processing from farmer to manufacturer not to contaminate with others, and proving the effective implementation of the handling by documentation. Please refer to distribution manuals below for implementation. |
