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This enactment provides for all foods or food ingredients that are or
that contain genetically modified material to be labelled to this effect,
in accordance with the regulations. It does not apply to content of
genetically modified material in a food or in a food ingredient below one
percent, to allow for the practical limitations that exist in the avoidance
of contamination.
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This labelling will allow for research and post-release monitoring of
potential health effects of genetically modified foods. It will also enable
purchasers to decide whether to purchase products containing
genetically modified material.
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As this applies at all stages of sale, it will require the genetic history
of a food or ingredient to be recorded and traced through all stages of
distribution, manufacture, processing, packaging and sale.
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Purchasers at all stages, from production to retail sale, must require
the vendor to undertake in writing that the requirements of the Act and
the regulations have been complied with. This will ensure the integrity
of the documentation trail, facilitate accurate labelling and prevent
incorrectly labelled or unlabelled material reaching the consumer.
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The enactment allows for the requirement for labelling to be brought
into force with respect to different foods, as soon as the relevant
regulations are made, and time has been allowed to enable the necessary
procedures and controls to be put in place.
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This enactment will not affect the right of a vendor to apply voluntary
labelling describing a food as being ``GM free'', if that is the case.
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The existing provisions of the Act for inspection, enforcement,
offences and penalties apply. New offences related to false, misleading
or incomplete labelling are established and include persons who are
wilfully blind to defects in labelling. These offences would incur the
existing penalties in the Act, which include fines up to $250,000 and
imprisonment for up to 3 years.
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The existing power to exempt foods from the provisions of the Act
is limited so that foods may not be exempted from the provisions
respecting labelling of genetically modified foods, except packaged
specialty foods that are unlikely to be a significant or essential part of
a diet and that are labelled to show that they have been exempted from
the requirement to declare the genetically modified content.
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Provision is made for the Minister to initiate research into the
long-term effects of the consumption of genetically modified food on
human health.
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