The Saskatoon StarPhoenix | January 13, 2000 | Lyons, Murray
Dale Adolphe, the president of the Canola Council of Canada, was cited as telling Saskatchewan's canola growers Wednesday the national group sees no reason why canola producers will have to segregate marketing of genetically modified canola to satisfy consumer concerns about the oilseed in Canada's major markets and it does not appear Japan, the country's biggest market for canola seed, will require such segregation in the future.
Adolphe said the Japanese import 80 per cent of their food requirements and they recognize they cannot afford to jeopardize trade arrangements they have in North America and that even though Japan is moving to a mandatory food labelling requirement when it comes to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the country appears to be basing its labelling on science.
Adolphe further said any moves Canada makes toward voluntary labelling could take some lessons from the Japanese approach, which will be unveiled in April and put into effect in April 2001.
Adolphe said it appears vegetable oils made from soy, corn and canola will not be labelled by the Japanese because oil products do not contain protein where any GMO or recombinant DNA could be detected.
As well, canola meal used in animal feed will not be subject to labelling.
Adolphe's view that Canada's traditional markets would still be receptive to Canadian canola was echoed Tuesday by Steve Meister, a spokesperson for Aventis, the new name for the combined companies of AgrEvo and Rhone-Poulenc.
** That company produces a GMO variety that is resistant to the company's Liberty brand herbicide. It employs more than 30 people at a canola research facility in Saskatoon.
Meister was quoted as saying, "The Japanese are working on some labelling guidelines but oil, because it doesn't contain protein, is exempt."
Adolphe said the decision of companies to use non-GMO as a marketing tool unrelated to science is highlighted by Seagram's, which recently said it was not going to buy GMO corn for production of its spirits, adding, "I'd be awfully surprised if anybody is going to walk into a liquor store and reads labels to see whether or not it has been genetically modified."
The story adds that Saskatchewan canola farmers don't appear happy with the cost of the seed they buy each spring from the many companies involved in producing new varieties of canola, whether it be GMO or varieties produced by other plant breeding techniques.
A resolution was passed by producers which asked the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission to look into producing its own varieties.
