Press Releases

Pre-market safety assessment proposed to ensure safety of GM foods

The Government will propose to implement a mandatory pre-market safety assessment to ensure the safety of genetically modified (GM) foods, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (June 25).

In response to media enquiries and representations from interested groups calling for the establishment of a mandatory labeling system for GM foods to address the concern over the safety of GM food and Hong Kong becoming a dumping ground for such products, the spokesman said that the proposed pre-market safety assessment could be capable of addressing the concerns.

"There has been a lack of international consensus on the regulatory details of such a labeling system on GM foods. It is thus inappropriate at this time to introduce a mandatory labeling system now," the spokesman explained.

The pre-market safety assessment of GM foods has been currently applied by regulatory agencies around the world.

The assessment has also been recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) for their member states to set up regulatory framework for the pre-market evaluation of GM foods, the spokesman said.

"Our proposed pre-market safety assessment will be based on the scientific principles and guidelines developed by Codex and it will ensure the safety of new GM foods before they are allowed to be put on the market," he said.

Regarding the safety and protection of consumers and their wishes for product information, the spokesman said the Government would encourage the trade to adopt a system of voluntary labeling for GM foods as a practical means to address some consumers' demand for making informed choices.

To facilitate the trade in adopting voluntary labeling, the Government would propose to issue a set of guidelines for further discussion with the trade in due course, he added.

"With the proposed mandatory pre-market safety assessment which will be supplemented by a system of voluntary labeling, the Administration believes it is the most practical solution as this could address the community's concern without causing an additional burden to the small and medium sized enterprises," he said.

According to the WHO, GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessment and are not likely to present risks for human health.

In addition, no effects on human have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by general population in countries where they have been approved.

End/Wednesday, 25 June 2003
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