Responding to Europeans’ fears about genetically modified foods, the European Union yesterday gave preliminary approval to plans that would require labeling of foods with at least one ingredient that contains more than one percent of genetically modified material. The new rules should come into effect within three months, after expected approval from the EU’s executive commission. Friends of the Earth slammed the new standards for being too lenient in allowing even one percent of genetically modified material. Japan, Australia, and several other countries are also developing labeling standards. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration earlier this week said it would reexamine its biotech food policies and hold public hearings to determine whether GM foods should be labeled.
