GM labelling and the law

Since December 2002, the law in Australia states that food labels must show if food has been genetically modified or contains genetically modified ingredients, or whether GM additives or processing aids remain in the final food.

Special labels are not required for:

• ‘Highly refined’ foods where the altered DNA or protein is no longer in the food (for example, oil from modified corn).
• GM food additives or processing aids - unless the new DNA remains in the food to which it is added.
• GM flavours where less than 0.1 per cent is present in the food.
• Food, food ingredients or processing aids where GM ingredients are ‘unintentionally’ present in less than 1.0 per cent.
• Food that is prepared at the point of sale (so takeaway and restaurant food will not have to be labelled).

Labels may be required where:

• Genetic modification has altered the food so that its composition or nutritional value is ‘outside the normal range’ of similar non-GM goods; for example, if GM technology is used to add vitamins.
• Naturally occurring toxins are ‘significantly different’ to similar non-GM foods.
• The food produced using GM technology contains a ‘new factor’, which can cause allergic reactions in some people.
• Genetic modification raises ‘significant ethical, cultural and religious concerns’ regarding the origin of the genetic material used.