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A Precautionary Tale: The International Trade Implications Of Regulating Genetically Modified Foods In Australia And New Zealand, Denise M. Lietz

Washington International Law Journal

The current international debate surrounding the development of genetically modified ("GM") foods centers around the selection of appropriate regulations to control the new technology's potential food safety risks. Australia and New Zealand have used a precautionary approach to develop their regulatory system for GM foods—a system that will soon include a stringent labeling requirement for all foods containing GM ingredients. The United States, on the other hand, has rejected the precautionary approach to regulating GM foods and does not require mandatory labeling of most GM foods. These differing national regulations may lead to restrictions on the importation of many U.S. …