China’s GMO Labeling Laws to Get Even Stronger

China, as an entire country, has required the labeling of GMO food since 2001. As if that isn’t surprising enough, they are now taking even bigger strides to ensure GMO food products sold in cafes and restaurants include clear labels.

In one province of China, shops and markets are now required to separate and designate GMO foods – and they’ve already noted an increase in the sales of non-GMO counterparts.

By March 1, all vendors in the province must “establish a special counter or shelf for GMO food,” according to GM Education.org.

According to a circular distributed in the province (reported via Agro News), it reports that the move “guarantees the consumer’s right to know what they are buying and choose what they want to buy.”

The new mandate will only apply to the Gansu Province at this time, but, with an apparent rise in non-GMO products already noted in this province, others may follow.

China has made calculated movements to label GMO products.

According to Green America, “Initially, China’s labeling law resembled Japan’s, requiring labeling of only certain known categories of genetically modified products derived from corn, cotton, rapeseed, soybeans, and tomatoes. In 2007, this law was expanded to stipulate that all GM foods must be labeled (no minimum threshold stipulated).”

This decision to impose further restrictions and monitoring, even if just for one province, is yet another move in the right direction. Judging from prior movements from the country in this arena, other provinces will soon follow in this effort for fully transparent food. Hey, United States: Time to follow suit!

Image source: Geoff / Wikimedia