(OTTAWA) Twenty-one health, environment and consumer organizations today released their concrete proposals for the mandatory labelling of genetically engineered foods. Their proposals come as government and industry begin an 18-month negotiation on a voluntary labelling standard.

"From Japan and Korea, to Germany and the U.K., countries around the world have established mandatory labelling requirements. In Canada, polls show as much as 90% of Canadians want labelling. It's embarrassing to see our government so unresponsive to public demand," said Jennifer Story of the Council of Canadians.

Their statement is released on the eve of the first meeting of the Committee on Voluntary Labeling of Foods Obtained Through Biotechnology. The committee is co-ordinated by the Canadian General Standards Board and was launched in co-operation with the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors.

"Voluntary labelling will not protect the consumer. Mandatory labelling is the only way to track potential health impacts of these foods," said Cindy Wiggins of the Canadian Health Coalition.

"We have little faith that this 18-month process is anything other than a stalling tactic - particularly when the committee is largely formed of groups that have consistently opposed labelling," said Lucy Sharratt from the Sierra Club of Canada.

"Many groups are calling for a moratorium or a ban. Mandatory labelling is the least our government must do," said Michael Khoo of Greenpeace's Genetic Engineering Campaign.

1. Action Réseau Consommateur
2. Biotech Action Montreal
3. Canadian Biotech Action Network
4. Canadian Environment Network - Biotech Caucus
5. Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
6. Canadian Health Coalition
7. Canadian Health Food Association
8. Canadian Labour Congress
9. Canadian Organic Growers
10. Catholic Health Association of Canada
11. Coalition for a Green Economic Recovery
12. Congress of Union Retirees of Canada
13. Consumers' Right to Know Campaign
14. Council of Canadians
15. David Suzuki
16. Foodshare
17. Friends of the Earth
18. Greenpeace
19. Infant Feeding Action Coalition
20. National Farmers Union
21. National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation
22. Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens
23. Ontario Health Coalition
24. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
25. Rural Advancement Foundation International
26. Sierra Club of Canada
27. Sierra Youth Coalition

Read the full text of the joint letter to federal Health, Agriculture and Industry ministers on labelling genetically engineered foods, November 16, 1999