This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2015.
This bill was previously introduced in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session.
Alex Atamanenko NDP
Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 23, 2011
(This bill did not become law.)
This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.
This enactment amends the Food and Drugs Act to provide that the Minister of Health is responsible for establishing that a food or one or more of its components are genetically modified. Once this has been established, the Minister is required to have the name of the food published in the Canada Gazette. The Minister must also prepare a list of all such foods and have a copy sent at no cost to any person who requests it.
This food and food products containing this food cannot then be sold in a package unless a label containing the following notice is affixed to the package:
This product or one or more of its components have been genetically modified.
In addition, this food and food products containing this food cannot be sold without a package unless a sign in the prescribed form containing the following notice is posted near the food:
Genetically modified
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Genetically Modified FoodsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
December 2nd, 2013 / 3:55 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on the House of Commons to support Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods).
Food and Drugs ActPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
November 18th, 2013 / 3:05 p.m.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present today. Two of them deal with the same issue, which would be Bill C-257, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act with regard to mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods.
The petitioners come from communities across Vancouver Island, including Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Nanoose, Errington, Bowser, and Nanaimo. They would like us to address this issue so that Canadians know what they are eating.
Genetically Modified FoodsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
October 30th, 2013 / 3:15 p.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first deals with my Bill C-257, on mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods. The petitioners are saying that genetically engineered food labelling is already compulsory in many countries and is known to be both practical and useful. They call upon Parliament to enact Bill C-257 to require mandatory labelling of all food in which the presence of genetically modified ingredients can be detected.
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Mr. Speaker, my last petition is from the Toronto area. It calls on Parliament to enact Bill C-257 to require mandatory labelling of all food in which the presence of genetically modified ingredients can be detected.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the final petition calls for an amendment to the Food and Drugs Act. The petitioners point out that Canadians have a right to make informed choices about the food they eat by having adequate information provided on food labels. The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods).
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the final petition is one I have presented a number of times in the House. The petitioners indicate that Canadians have a right to make informed choices about the food they eat by having adequate information provided on food labels. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons to support An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods).
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present.
In the first petition, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods).
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is related to the bill to amend the Food and Drugs Act, Bill C-257. The petitioners call on the House of Commons to support Bill C-257, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act, mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition I have has to do with An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods). The undersigned are saying that Canadians have a right to make informed choices about the food they eat by having adequate information provided on food labels. They therefore call on the House of Commons to support An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods).
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods).
Mr. Speaker, this is a reintroduction of a previous bill I had. It is timely as it would amend the Food and Drugs Act to ensure there is labelling with regard to genetically modified foods.
Some may ask why this bill is necessary. Canadians are becoming more and more concerned about the food they eat. Independent research is difficult to find when dealing with this topic. There are scientists in the world who have found adverse effects. For example, studies were done on Monsanto's MON 810 corn in Europe. As a result, this corn has been banned in a number of European countries. Bulgaria has a total ban on GMOs because of health and environmental concerns.
This bill is about the choice of Canadians to determine what they want or do not want to eat.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)