Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ12:Safety of genetically-modified food

Following is a question by the Hon.Cyd Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environmenat and Food, Mrs Lily Yam, in the Legislative Council meeting (May 8):

Question

It has been reported that Greenpeace, a green group, discovered early this month that a local food manufacturer used genetically modified (GM) soya beans imported from the United States of America (USA) to manufacture bean curd dessert and fresh soya milk, and the soya beans contained an unidentified DNA segment. Some scientists have pointed out that the DNA segment may give rise to new protein in the soya beans as well as changes in their original genetic structure and metabolic system. The consequences of human consumption of such soya beans or their products are unknown. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) the foods for sale in Hong Kong containing such GM soya beans or the unidentified DNA segment; if no information is available, the reasons for that;

(b) whether it has approached the manufacturer of such soya beans in the USA for more information; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(c) whether it has taken any measures to ensure that the health of Hong Kong consumers is not impaired by the eating of such soya beans;

(d) whether it will consider requiring the local food manufacturer concerned to recall its bean curd dessert and fresh soya milk; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(e) given the recent series of GM foods-related incidents, whether it will consider expediting the introduction of a mandatory labelling system for GM foods; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(f) given that the Administration advised this Council on 15 December 1999 that GM foods could be treated as safe as conventional foods if their components were found to be substantially the same, whether it will review such a point of view in the light of this incident and put in place a mechanism for regulating and assessing GM foods; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Answer

(a),(b)&(c) The genetically modified (GM) soya beans mentioned by Greenpeace are "Roundup Ready" soya beans. We have approached their manufacturer in the USA as well as a number of overseas regulatory authorities to see whether the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in question would affect food safety. According to the information gathered, the manufacturer and the regulatory authorities have already included DNA testing in their safety assessments. Food regulatory authorities in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the European Union have all confirmed the safety of the soya beans and permitted their use in food. Except for some highly perishable food including meat, milk and frozen confectionery, food importers are not required to seek prior approval or make declarations regarding the food raw materials used in the food products they intend to import. Therefore, we do not have information on the food products that contain these GM soya beans or the DNA segment.

(d) As there is no evidence that the GM soya beans in question are unfit for human consumption, we are not going to recall the soya beans products.

(e) Currently, there is no international consensus on GM food labellng. During our public consultation on the subject last year, some expressed the views that the introduction of a mandatory labelling system for GM food would have serious consequences for the trade and the consumers, including increased food costs and food manufacturers giving up the Hong Kong market, thus reducing consumer choice in food variety. We have commissioned a consultancy study to assess a GM food labelling system's possible implications on food supply and food prices. We will decide on the way forward after the completion of the study. The study is now underway and is expected to complete in a few months' time.

(f) Regarding the safety of GM food, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) have all along recommended the principle of "substantial equivalence" for conducting assessments. The principle is now widely adopted by food regulatory authorities in different countries. In 2000, WHO expounded again the concept of this principle. Under this principle, food safety assessment bodies would compare a GM food with its conventional counterpart to identify the similarities and differences between them. The GM food will then undergo a series of tests and safety assessments for various characteristics, including nutritional contents, and toxicological and allergenic properties.

Internationally renowned authorities, including WHO and FAO, believe that the safety level of GM food is not inherently lower than conventional food. Moreover, there is no scientific or medical evidence to suggest that GM food is unsafe to humans at present. Currently, all GM food on sale in the international market have been subjected to rigorous safety assessments by manufacturers and regulatory bodies in their places of origin before they are put on the market to ensure their safety. Therefore, we do not plan to change the existing regulatory mechanism for monitoring food safety. We will, however, continue to closely monitor the developments in food technology, including the development trend of genetic modification, to keep pace with international food safety assessments.

Wednesday, May 8, 2002