US lobbying to block GE labelling in Australia

US biotech companies are currently lobbying the Australian Government not to label GE products, asserting this would be an undue restriction on trade with the US.

Australia is currently in negotiations over a free trade agreement with America that could block efforts to have GE products in food labelled in Australia.

The agreement under consideration is the Trans Pacific Free Trade Agreement (TPPFTA) involving America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Brunei Darussalam, Peru and Vietnam. The US biotech industry group's submission on TPPFTA calls for no GE labelling that could restrict trade of biotech products with the US. The group also calls for countries to do-away with any local safety testing on GE products, as according to the biotech lobby group, they have already been proven safe in the US and local testing requirements create an undue regulatory burden on business.

Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean has said that everything is on the table for these negotiations, even as the Federal Government continues it's review of food labelling laws. You can take action now to protect Australia's health and environment against the profit-seeking motives of US biotech firms. Greenpeace is supporting a campaign by the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network which calls on the Australian Government to put the interests of its citizens before the profits of the multnational companies. You can take action to stop US companies from blocking GE labelling by emailing Australia's Trade Minister, Simon Crean.