MP says labelling all genetically modified foods could create unnecessary fear

An Island MPsays hevoted against a private member's bill to require the labelling of genetically-modified food because he didn't think a blanket system would serve the public.

Wayne Easter was one of three Island MPs who voted against the bill, which failed to pass its second reading on May 17.

Sean Casey was lonerepresentative of P.E.I.to vote for the bill. LawrenceMacAulayand Bobby Morrissey alsowent against it.

Easter said the bill wasn't specific enough in defining which foods would require labelling.

"I expect a lot of people on Prince Edward Islandusecanolaoil. Canolais genetically modified," he said.

"Do you label that as GMO, do you label french fries that are cooked incanolaoil as genetically-modified?"

Case by case

Easter said another reason for the way he voted was thatif all genetically-modified food required labelsit might create unnecessary concern.

"The way this bill went is labelling, which also creates the fear that there is something in the food product when there really isn't," he said.

• AquaBounty proposes to set up commercial GMO salmon production in Rollo Bay West

Easter said thatin some situations labelling should be required, but in others, it isn't necessary.

"I look at each GMO differently, in its own right."

Environmental impact

Easter said he is concerned with certain genetically-modified foods, such asAquaBounty salmon, because of the environmental impact it could have.

He said heworried thatgenetically-modified salmon may affect the wild species if it was bred in the ocean.

"I see the AquaBounty as more an environmental concern," he said.

"It would definitely have to be land based, and because it's more the animal species, it should be labelled."

The AquaBounty facility will be land based.

In April, Environment Canada stated: "Any new facility built to grow the GM salmon must comply with that notice, which specifies that only sterile fish can be grown commercially, they must be killed before leaving the facility and the facility must be fully contained, secure, and land based."

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