Labelling food products

Specific labelling is required for food that is made entirely of genetically modified (GM) material, contains GM material or includes ingredients made from GM material.

If you sell GM foods loose (not pre-packed), you must provide information next to the food to tell the consumer it contains GM material.

Mandatory labelling for genetically modified ingredients

If you use any GM ingredients intentionally, you must label them. Products such as flours, oils and glucose syrups made from a GM source must be labelled as GM, regardless of the amount of GM material present in the final product.

When labelling is not required

Non-GM foods can contain a small amount of authorised GM material without requiring GM labelling. This is only allowed if the GM presence:

• is unintentional / technically unavoidable
• makes up no more than 0.9% of the relevant ingredient

Labelling is also not required for:

• products made with GM technology (for example, cheese made using GM enzymes), where the final product does not contain GM material
• products such as meat, milk and eggs from animals fed with genetically modified feed

The relevant regulations in Northern Ireland include the Genetically Modified Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004.

Genetically modified ingredients in animal feed

Many of the rules that cover GM material in food for human consumption also apply in similar ways to animal feed. This means that:

• only authorised GM material can be added to animal feed marketed in the EU and Northern Ireland
• feed containing intentionally-added GM or GM-derived material must be properly labelled
• non-GM feed containing up to 0.9% of GM material does not require GM labelling where the presence was not intentional

For more information, see the Food Standards Agency’s genetically modified organisms authorisation guidance.