Thailand regulates GMO food labels to boost consumer transparency

01 Aug 2022 --- The government in Thailand has updated food labeling regulation which forces food firms to declare genetically modified substances (GMO).

“The clear assertion ‘genetically modified’ should be declared together with the title of the meals on the label if the product comprises just one ingredient, and if it makes use of a number of these substances, these should even be clearly declared along with every ingredient,” says Dr. Satit Pitutecha, Thailand deputy minister of public health.

Thailand regulations
GMO regulations will help consumers with their purchasing choices by providing valuable information.

“Meals labels should additionally show the assertion (name of food or product) produced from transgenic (type of plant/animal/microorganism) for merchandise made with genetically modified crops, animals or microorganisms,” explains Pitutecha. 

“The textual content of those statements should be daring and clear and printed in a shade that clearly contrasts with the bottom shade of the particular background of the label, for example, with black letters on a yellow background,” he continues.

Thailand, however, doesn’t want to express an anti-GMO food sentiment, creating rules to avoid over-labeling against modified food.The country, however, doesn’t want to express an anti-GMO food sentiment, creating rules to avoid over-labeling against modified food.

“Meals corporations additionally might not use the phrases ‘GMO-free meals,’ ‘non-modified meals,’ ‘comprises no genetically modified meals parts,’ ‘GMO substances have been excluded,’ or another comparable textual content or symbols on all meals labels,” Pitutecha underscores. 

“That is to forestall shoppers from misunderstanding or misconceptions regarding the content material and labeling of all meals on the whole,” he continues.

An exception to the GMO labeling has been set for companies that can provide traceability evidence that no modified ingredients are used in any production stage.

These exceptions are set specially for small producers and companies that can prove no GMO trace in the final product.

UK hub for GMO
Countries' interest in modified crops is rising as the opportunities that higher yields or climate-resistant crops (and even pesticide reduction) bring become increasingly attractive in an uncertain world for food producers and consumers.

A new law would be tailored to allow food producers to use genetic technologies to speed up traditional crop breeding that would otherwise take years or decades. 

However, the country Regulatory Policy Committee signals that the UK’s bill still needs work before its final approval, as more information on its impact and its rationale is required. 

Edited by Marc Cervera