European REGULATION (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food

Notes from BakersSoftware.com:

1. In these versions of the european regulations (No 1829/2003, 1830/2003) on genetically modified food, all text non-relevant to bakers has been omitted.
2. These texts are however our interpretation of the law and as such should legally be seen as no more than our opinion. BakersSoftware Ltd takes no responsibility for the content of this text or the results thereof. For the complete and definitive text we refer to website of the European Community at http://europa.eu.int.

Article 13 - REGULATION (EC) No 1829/2003

1. Without prejudice to the other requirements of Community law concerning the labelling of foodstuffs, foods falling within the scope of this Section shall be subject to the following specific labelling requirements:
   1. where the food consists of more than one ingredient, the words 'genetically modified' or 'produced from genetically modified (name of the ingredient)' shall appear in the list of ingredients provided for in Article 6 of Directive 2000/13/EC in parentheses immediately following the ingredient concerned;
   2. where the ingredient is designated by the name of a category, the words 'contains genetically modified (name of organism)' or 'contains (name of ingredient) produced from genetically modified (name of organism)' shall appear in the list of ingredients;
   3. where there is no list of ingredients, the words 'genetically modified' or 'produced from genetically modified (name of organism)' shall appear clearly on the labelling;
   4. the indications referred to in (a) and (b) may appear in a footnote to the list of ingredients. In this case they shall be printed in a font of at least the same size as the list of ingredients. Where there is no list of ingredients, they shall appear clearly on the labelling;
   5. where the food is offered for sale to the final consumer as non-pre-packaged food, or as pre-packaged food in small containers of which the largest surface has an area of less than 10 cm2, the information required under this paragraph must be permanently and visibly displayed either on the food display or immediately next to it, or on the packaging material, in a font sufficiently large for it to be easily identified and read.
2. In addition to the labelling requirements referred to in paragraph 1, the labelling shall also mention any characteristic or property, as specified in the authorisation, in the following cases:
   1. where a food is different from its conventional counterpart as regards the following characteristics or properties:
      1. composition;
      2. nutritional value or nutritional effects;
      3. intended use of the food;
      4. implications for the health of certain sections of the population;
   2. where a food may give rise to ethical or religious concerns.
3. In addition to the labelling requirements referred to in paragraph 1 and as specified in the authorisation, the labelling of foods falling within the scope of this Section which do not have a conventional counterpart shall contain appropriate information about the nature and the characteristics of the foods concerned.

Article 4 - REGULATION (EC) No 1830/2003

1. At the first stage of the placing on the market of a product consisting of or containing GMOs, including bulk quantities, operators shall ensure that the following information is transmitted in writing to the operator receiving the product:
   1. that it contains or consists of GMOs;
   2. the unique identifier(s) assigned to those GMOs in accordance with Article 8.
2. At all subsequent stages of the placing on the market of products referred to in paragraph 1, operators shall ensure that the information received in accordance with paragraph 1 is transmitted in writing to the operators receiving the products.
3. In the case of products consisting of or containing mixtures of GMOs to be used only and directly as food or feed or for processing, the information referred to in paragraph 1(b) may be replaced by a declaration of use by the operator, accompanied by a list of the unique identifiers for all those GMOs that have been used to constitute the mixture.
4. Without prejudice to Article 6, operators shall have in place systems and standardised procedures to allow the holding of information specified in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) and the identification, for a period of five years from each transaction, of the operator by whom and the operator to whom the products referred to in paragraph 1 have been made available.
5. Paragraphs 1 to 4 shall be without prejudice to other specific requirements in Community legislation.

6. For products consisting of or containing GMOs, operators shall ensure that:
   1. for pre-packaged products consisting of, or containing GMOs, the words 'This product contains genetically modified organisms' or 'This product contains genetically modified [name of organism(s)]' appear on a label;
   2. for non-pre-packaged products offered to the final consumer the words 'This product contains genetically modified organisms' or 'This product contains genetically modified [name of organism(s)]' shall appear on, or in connection with, the display of the product.
   This paragraph shall be without prejudice to other specific requirements in Community legislation.

6. Paragraphs 1 to 6 shall not apply to traces of GMOs in products in a proportion no higher than the thresholds established in accordance with Article 21(2) or (3) of Directive 2001/18/EC and in other specific Community legislation, provided that these traces of GMOs are adventitious or technically unavoidable.
7. Paragraphs 1 to 6 shall not apply to traces of GMOs in products intended for direct use as food, feed or for processing in a proportion no higher than the thresholds established for those GMOs in accordance with Articles 12, 24 or 47 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, provided that these traces of GMOs are adventitious or technically unavoidable.

Article 5 - REGULATION (EC) No 1830/2003

1. When placing products produced from GMOs on the market, operators shall ensure that the following information is transmitted in writing to the operator receiving the product:
   1. an indication of each of the food ingredients which is produced from GMOs;
   2. an indication of each of the feed materials or additives which is produced from GMOs;
   3. in the case of products for which no list of ingredients exists, an indication that the product is produced from GMOs.
2. Without prejudice to Article 6, operators shall have in place systems and standardised procedures to allow the holding of the information specified in paragraph 1 and the identification, for a period of five years from each transaction, of the operator by whom and to whom the products referred to in paragraph 1 have been made available.
3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be without prejudice to other specific requirements in Community legislation.
4. Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply to traces of GMOs in products for food and feed produced from GMOs in a proportion no higher than the thresholds established for those GMOs in accordance with Articles 12, 24 or 47 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, provided that these traces of GMOs are adventitious or technically unavoidable.