Bill labeling foods containing genetically engineered material filed

MANILA, Philippines - Two lawmakers have filed a bill seeking the proper labeling of foods containing genetically engineered material.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother, Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, filed House Bill 1402 or the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act.

Under the proposed measure, all food products containing genetically enhanced material should be properly labeled to inform consumers of its contents.

It directs the Department of Health (DOH) to enforce the rules and regulations and the Department of Agriculture to monitor farm products that may contain genetically modified material.

Violators will be fined P100,000 and imprisoned for two years.

In explaining the merits of the bill, Rufus Rodriguez cited the 37 deaths in the US in the late 1980s from intake of a tryptophan food supplement containing genetically engineered material. 1,500 were permanently disabled.

“Genetically engineered food is a new way of producing foods by taking DNA from one species and inserting it into another. Given the huge complexity of the genetic code, no one can possibly predict the effects of adding new genes into any organism or plant,” he said.

He noted that the US imposes mandatory labeling of consumer products to give consumers accurate information on the contents.

The bill defines genetically engineered material as material derived from any part of a genetically engineered organism, without regard to whether the altered molecular or cellular characteristics of the organism are detectable in the market.