Held from 1-5 May 2006, in Ottawa, Canada, the 34th session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling established a working group to develop guidance on GM food labeling, notwithstanding a proposal to suspend negotiations on the issue.

Exporters of GMOs, including the US, Argentina and Mexico, argued that discussions should be discontinued, due to lack of consensus, as well as to their potential implications on trade flows and the implementation of WTO rules. In particular, they resisted a voluntary standard based on the process or method of production. Several others, however, supported developing standards to provide guidance to governments in establishing labeling regulations. In the final decision, the Committee agreed to hold a working group meeting in January 2007, in Norway. The working group will look at countries’ experiences with mandatory and voluntary labeling of GMOs, and forward its report to the 35th session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling, to be held from 30 April to 4 May 2007, in Ottawa, Canada.
Links to further information
Codex discussions on biotech labeling survive challenge, ICTSD Bridges Trade BioRes, vol 6, no 9, 19 May 2006
Consumers International press releases and daily reports, May 2006