In January, the FDA proposed voluntary guidelines for biotech and non-biotech product labeling, unless a biotech product raises health or safety concerns. This U.S. position differs from many other countries that have instituted mandatory labeling of biotech products, even without clear scientific justification.
China, Thailand and other countries have passed laws or issued regulations requiring foods derived from biotechnology to be labeled. The European Union, Japan and South Korea already have such laws. Biotech labeling laws in Australia and New Zealand go into effect in December, 2001. Unfortunately, the rules all differ. For example, specified testing methodologies are different. Rules also vary on the thresholds allowed and on products exempted.