“The Mandatory Labelling regime for genetically modified foods is just plain stupid,” says Libertarianz Environment Deregulation Spokesman, Peter Cresswell

Annette King is reported as saying, “the amended standard was a response to consumer concerns about genetically modified foods and their desire for more information.” “I disagree,” says Cresswell. “Consumer concerns about genetically modified foods have barely been evident – what we have had instead is unquestioned acceptance by the politicians of the pseudo-science and the dodgy statistics of anti-GE activists.”

“There is no need for compulsion,” says Cresswell, ”no need at all to impose mandatory labelling on food producers. If consumers want their food labelled, then let them buy food that producers have voluntarily labelled; if there is widespread demand for labelled food, then producers will be labelling.”

“But the fact is that there is no widespread demand for GE-Free labelled foods,” he says, “it is a niche market at best. Supermarket shelves are not loaded down with food labelled GE-free because most people really aren’t interested. Let those people who do wish to buy labelled food buy it in their own favourite niche market, and not impose their own irrational desires on the rest of us.“

“Put simply, labelling is a matter between a seller and a buyer,” concludes Cresswell. “If the buyer wants it, then the seller might consider offering it; if not, then not. It is no business for the Minister of Health.”

ENDS

For further information please contact; Peter Cresswell Libertarianz Spokesman for Deregulation of the Environment (09) 631 0034 e-mail: organon@ihug.co.nz

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