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June 2015 Genetically Modified News Roundup

General News By Emily Carter 0 views

The international wave of anti-GMO action continues unabated. In late June, the Central News Agency produced a series of special reports on GMOs, spanning the United States, Brazil, Europe, Africa, India and Taiwan, China, exploring how countries think about policy and how consumers feel when faced with disputes over GM foods; Syngenta once again rejected Monsanto's takeover proposal, temporarily halting concerns about the emergence of the world's largest agribusiness company; the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has stirred dissatisfaction among people and groups across the EU who care about the food safety of GMOs, and they have risen up one after another to resist it; rock veteran Neil Young released a new album, "The Monsanto Years," sharply attacking its misdeeds; the Pope issued an encyclical that drew global attention, pointing directly to the problems of contemporary technologies such as GMOs and asking us to reflect: what kind of world will we give our children?

Starting July 1, Taiwan, China's new GM food labeling system officially took effect. The first stage covers unpackaged non-GM foods, and operators with company or factory registration must label them "genetically modified" if GM food ingredients are unintentionally mixed in at more than 3 percent. At the same time, the Ministry of Health and Welfare also announced that, starting July 31, 10 major categories of businesses, including soy product processors, will be included in the food traceability system. As for the non-GMO school lunch policy, the Hsinchu City Education Department said it is working toward full implementation within two years.

[Special Recommendation] From 7/1, Taiwan, China's new GM food labeling system officially takes effect

Starting July 1, Taiwan, China's new GM food labeling system officially took effect. The first stage applies to unpackaged non-GM foods, and operators with company or factory registration must label them "genetically modified" if GM food ingredients are unintentionally mixed in at more than 3 percent. (https://goo.gl/OemsAF)

  1. Ministry of Health and Welfare announces that 10 major categories of food businesses will implement the food traceability system from July 31 (2015/6/8)

On June 8, 2015 (ROC year 104), the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the "food businesses that shall establish a food traceability system," planning to include 7 categories of bulk daily necessities (including soybeans, wheat, corn, flour, starch, salt and sugar), 2 categories of tea products (including tea leaves and packaged tea beverages), and soy products, totaling 10 categories of food businesses, estimated at about 1,500 operators, under food traceability system management starting July 31 of this year (ROC year 104). (http://goo.gl/5grQ0t)

  1. Syngenta rejects Monsanto's latest takeover proposal (2015/6/8)

Swiss agrochemical company Syngenta on Monday rejected a second takeover proposal from U.S. rival Monsanto, saying the breakup fee added to the first proposal was not sufficient. (http://goo.gl/KmoFnW)

  1. Unable to withstand political and public pressure, TTIP is temporarily halted (2015/6/10)

Massive public pressure has always been the main reason TTIP could not proceed smoothly. The so-called world's largest free trade agreement would not only cut tariffs that were already low on both sides, but also unify trade rules, with goods and services transactions affected to varying degrees. Many people believe that once free trade allows U.S. and European goods to circulate, it could loosen the EU's strict regulatory standards for food, especially regarding U.S. GM crops, pesticides and foods with excessive additives. (https://anntw.com/articles/20150610-0T2E)

  1. GM canola and cotton surface quietly obtain approval (2015/6/16)

Domestic GM raw materials are not limited to soybeans and corn. Recently, GM cotton and GM canola have quietly appeared, and the number of GM raw material permits has increased to 90. The Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare explained that this was in response to new food safety regulations. (www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/201506160215-1.aspx)

  1. Papal encyclical "Laudato si'" - What kind of world will we give our children? (2015/6/18)

Catholic Pope Francis released his ecology-themed encyclical "Laudato si'" on June 18 at the Holy See Press Office in the Vatican. The encyclical pointed directly to the problems of contemporary technologies such as GMOs. He first clarified the relationship between humanity and technology: technology helps humanity improve living conditions, and this fact should be recognized. But "those who hold technological knowledge, especially those who hold economic power and are thus able to use technology, also dominate all of humanity and the whole world." (https://goo.gl/on7Bxd)

  1. Rock superstar Neil Young's anti-GMO declaration (2015/6/23)

As the soul figure of Farm Aid, Neil Young has always been a loud cannon on agricultural issues, and his new album "The Monsanto Years" aims its sights at the highly controversial Monsanto company. (http://goo.gl/6BEFy3)

  1. Talking about GMOs, Premier Mao: help lawful businesses solve problems (2015/6/25)

After hearing the Ministry of Health and Welfare's report on "labeling of highly processed foods containing GM raw materials," Mao Chi-kuo said that all sectors are concerned about the GM food issue. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has already announced regulations on GM food labeling and is asked to continue communicating and guiding businesses to comply with the relevant regulations. In addition to implementing inspections, it should help lawfully operating businesses solve problems. (www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/201506250466-1.aspx)

  1. Hsinchu City Education Department explains the implementation schedule for using organic and non-GMO ingredients in school lunches (2015/6/26)

Since the 2014 academic year, Hsinchu City has raised the student lunch fee by 3 yuan per person per meal (elementary school from 32 yuan to 35 yuan, junior high school from 35 yuan to 38 yuan). At the current stage, some schools have begun using non-GMO ingredients in vegetarian or environmentally friendly meals, lunch soy milk, corn and so on. Because non-GMO ingredients cost more, and under funding difficulties, it is expected that discussions with vendors will work toward full non-GMO use within 2 years. (http://goo.gl/7JyJGE)

  1. Central News Agency publishes a special series of reports on GMOs (2015/6/27-28)

From June 27 to 28, the Central News Agency launched a special series of reports on GMOs, covering the United States, Brazil, France, Europe, Africa and India, and finally returning to Taiwan, China, to discuss recent disputes over GM foods and the new labeling system officially taking effect on July 1. (http://ppt.cc/CcPx5)

  1. Swiss retail leaders COOP and Migros stop selling any products containing glyphosate

After a WHO research report in March of this year listed glyphosate as a possible carcinogen, Swiss supermarket leader COOP and retail giant Migros issued statements saying they would no longer sell products containing glyphosate. This policy by COOP and Migros also echoed the move by German retail giant REWE Group, which stated that before the end of September this year its "toom Baumarkt DIY" stores would no longer sell any products containing glyphosate. (https://goo.gl/OemsAF)

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