Adherence to the precautionary principle* demands that the introduction of a new product or process whose ultimate effects are disputed or unknown should be resisted.

	GMO labeling	Major GMO labeling exceptions	Neonicotinoids	Altrazine	BPA ban	PCBs	rBST	Methyl Bromide use
Australia	mandatory	processed products	in review	allowed	no ban	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	8.7
Canada	optional	no GMO policy	plan to phase out	allowed	BPA bottles	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	3.0
Denmark	mandatory	meat, animal products	EU ban	Not allowed	all baby food contact products	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	-1.5*
France	mandatory	meat, animal products	EU ban	Not allowed	all food products	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	-1.5 *
Germany	mandatory	meat, animal products	EU ban	Not allowed	BPA bottles	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	-1.5*
Italy	mandatory	meat, animal products	EU ban	Not allowed	BPA bottles	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	-1.5*
Japan	mandatory	processed products	in review		no ban	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	0
Netherlands	mandatory	meat, animal products	EU ban	Not allowed	BPA bottles	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	-1.5*
Norway	mandatory		in review	Not allowed	BPA bottles	absolute ban	absolute ban	0
Sweden	mandatory	meat, animal products	EU ban	Not allowed	all baby food contact products	allowed in closed systems	absolute ban	–
United Kingdom	mandatory	meat, animal products	EU ban	Not allowed	BPA bottles	absolute ban	absolute ban	-1.5*
United States	optional	no GMO policy	in review	allowed	all baby food contact products	allowed in closed systems	unrestricted, labeling not required	-33.1

SOURCES

GMO labeling: JustLabelIt.org

Major GMO labeling exceptions: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2007

Neonicotinoids:

European Union countries

Australia

Canada

Japan

Norway

United States

Atrazine

*no recent sources could be found to indicate status of atrazine in Japan

BPA ban

PCBs: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Inventory Guidance, 2016

“The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 1 requires Parties to eliminate the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in equipment by 2025 and to ensure the environmentally sound waste management of liquids containing PCB and equipment contaminated with PCB by 2028.”

United Kingdom

rBST:

European Union countries

United States

Methyl Bromide: UNEP Ozone Secretariat, 2022

Consumption in tonnes of annual ozone depletion potential.

“Negative values for a given year imply that quantities destroyed or quantities exported for the year exceeded the sum of production and imports, implying that the destroyed or exported quantities came from stockpiles.”

All data from 2022 except for United States (2021).
*Members of the European Union do not report their individual consumption; that is reported in aggregated form for all the member states.

NOTES

“International trade of GMO-related agricultural products” Vargas M. Xanat, Ke Jiang, George A. Barnett, Han W. Park

March 2018.
Examines trade patterns and economic implications of international trade of genetically modified food products over a 27-year period with data from the United Nations.

“Genetically Modified Labeling Policies: Moving Forward or Backward?” Barbara J. P. Borges, Olivia M. N. Arantes, Antonio A. R. Fernandes, James R. Broach and Patricia M. B. Fernandes

November 27, 2018.
The GMO regulatory system needs revision in the US and other developed countries to rely on a solely scientifically-informed process. It is suggested that country GMF labeling should closely follow the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) guidelines and should discourage misinformation as much as possible since public opinion from misinformation on GMOs puts pressure on how policies are served.

“Combatting Monsanto” Joseph Zacune

March 2012.
“This report provides snapshots of frontline struggles against Monsanto and other biotech corporations pushing genetically modified (GM) crops. It shows that small-holder and organic farmers, local communities and social movements around the world are resisting and rejecting Monsanto, and the agro-industrial model that it represents. There is intense opposition to this powerful transnational company, which peddles its GM products seemingly without regard for the associated social and environmental costs.”

“European Court of Justice Orders EU Regulators to Publicly Release Secret Industry Glyphosate Studies”

Sustainable Pulse
March 7, 2019.
“The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ordered the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to release all of the secret carcinogenicity and toxicity pesticide industry studies on glyphosate to the general public, in a huge legal victory for public health protection.”

“Worse Than Lead?”

Jamie Lincoln Kitman
August 15, 2018.
The presence of flame retardants, often containing bromide and very toxic, has exploded in the last 40 years, as attributed by the same industry that promoted leaded gasoline. As of March of 2018, 16 states in the US are considering legislation to ban certain flame retardants.

“Canada’s suspect move to phase out neonicotinoids to ‘protect bees’ sets stage for US regulatory battle”

Jon Entine
October 3, 2018.

Page updated on 8/24/2023.