New Certification for Food

05 July 2001

The Earthmark Institute has been created to provide independent third party certification for GM free food products.

New GMO Free Certification The Earthmark Institute has been created to provide independent third party certification for a variety of attributes. Certification will be available for organic, BSE free, recycled/recyclable, Greenhouse Friendly or Free. Others will be added in time. The company plans to expand its operations to Europe, Japan and North America. For this reason, it has secured Arthur Andersen as the auditor of its attributes and M&C Saatchi as its global marketing partner. Earthmark also offers to certify a product as "Non GM". This is done in conjunction with Arthur Andersen and Gene Scan Australia, as the scientific analyst. Earthmark defines a product as non-GM where: each ingredient (excluding processing aids, flavours and additives, if any) in the product contains no genetically modified material or material derived or developed using gene technology: and any processing aids, flavours or additives in the product contain no genetically modified material or material derived or developed using gene technology, to the extent that they can be scientifically tested (the "Standard"). For eachproduct the Standard is established to a high level of certainty using identity preservation systems audit and/or scientific testing When pertaining to poultry and meat products, Earthmark defines a product as non GM where: the animal's DNA is not genetically modified and the ingredients fed to the animal are defined as non-GM under the above standard. These definitions are not based on legislation or labelling requirements. Rather, these definitions are based on market driven forces. Earthmark certification scheme combines an audit of ingredients used in the production of a food or beverage with scientific testing to determine if the product is free of GM material. This process involves the following stages: A questionnaire is completed by the company and submitted to Earthmark. Arthur Andersen conducts an investigation of the company's products and Identity Preservation Systems. Where no Identity Preservation System exists or where products have been judged to be at high risk of GM, laboratory testing is used to verify the genetic status of the product. For testing purposes, Earthmark divides ingredients of a product into two groups: 1. Major ingredients are always verified for GM material byGenescan. 2. Minor ingredients such as food colourings, and additives. These ingredients are verified where possible, through gene testing or IP verification. Ingredients excluded from the testing procedure: when no DNA or protein is present; and where ingredients are traded on an exchange where GM and GM-free sources are fungible, eg citric acid. Arthur Andersen then reports on its findings to Earthmark. Based on the findings from Arthur Andersen and Genescan, Earthmark then makes the decision to offer GM free certification. The company then enters into a License Agreement and is entitled to use the Earthmark OK Non-GMO logo for three years.

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Subject  
Regional relation  
Audience  Activists - Government and Policy Makers - NGOs - Teachers and Educators