Genetically modified food sold in Ireland is to be subject to more extensive labelling following an amendment to regulations by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey. This follows the strengthening by the European Commission of an EU directive on genetically modified organisms (GMO) used in food production. There has been widespread opposition within the EU to what was perceived as inadequate labelling and in some cases no labelling at all.
Environmental groups said the changes were not extensive enough and fell short of Fianna Fail pre-election promises.
Announcing the new regulations, Mr Dempsey noted "considerable public dissatisfaction" with previous rules which, in effect, did not require any explicit acknowledgment that a product contained or consisted of GMOs.
"This amendment - to directive 90/220/EEC - improves the situation but is only an interim technical adjustment pending full proposals to amend the directive," he said.
Genetically modified products must now be identified as such on the product label or in an accompanying document. The possibility of GMOs in mixed products must be indicated.
The Minister said he was committed to "both a cautionary approach to GMOs in foods and to the provision of full information to the public". He was asking his Department to prepare a policy position on GMOs. Genetic Concern, which opposes GMO use in Ireland, described the amendment as "grossly inadequate". Its spokesman, Mr Quentin Gargan, said genetically-engineered wheat would be labelled, but flour, pasta, bread or cakes from that source would not. It would not apply to modified soya beans marketed by Monsanto and modified maize marketed by Novartis.
Surveys had shown the public did not want genetically engineered organisms in food because of uncertainty over the consequences. "We welcome fuller information but, in the light of Fianna Fail's pre-election support for full-disclosure labelling, we're disappointed they have not taken the opportunity to at least implement labelling of all genetically engineered ingredients in foods."
The Green Party spokeswoman on food, Ms Paula Giles, said Fianna Fail had already failed in its promise to stop GMO crop trials in Carlow on sugar beet, which did not augur well for a promise to strengthen the labelling regulations.
