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International Approval and Labeling Regulations of Genetically Modified Food in Major Trading Countries

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Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology: Economics and Policy

Part of the book series: Natural Resource Management and Policy ((NRMP,volume 30))

Abstract

We review the approval and labeling regulations covering genetically modified (GM) foods in the United States, the European Union (EU), Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. We divide these countries into three groups according to their regulatory approach. At one extreme, the United States and Canada use pragmatic and science-based regulations, and at the other extreme the EU uses stringent and precautionary regulations. Finally, Japan and Australia/New Zealand have intermediate regulatory approaches. We argue that labeling requirements in importing nations have affected international trade, and that approval regulations are more likely than labeling regulations to be harmonized in the future.

The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors alone.

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Carter, C.A., Gruère, G.P. (2006). International Approval and Labeling Regulations of Genetically Modified Food in Major Trading Countries. In: Just, R.E., Alston, J.M., Zilberman, D. (eds) Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology: Economics and Policy. Natural Resource Management and Policy, vol 30. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-36953-2_21

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