Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen, I am Michel Arnold, the CEO of Option Consommateurs. I am accompanied by Mr. François Décary-Gilardeau, the agri-food analyst for our organization,
First, I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts on a consumer issue of great importance in the food chain, genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
At the very outset, I should like to introduce you to our association. Option Consommateurs has been in existence since 1983. The association's mission is to promote and defend the rights and interests of consumers. To do this, we employ a team of about 30 professionals.
Over the years, we have developed particular expertise in several areas, including budgeting and consumer indebtedness, financial services, health and food and energy. Moreover, we participated in the regulation of organic products and the development of the national standard on voluntary labelling and advertising of foods that are and are not products of genetic engineering.
Our guiding principles for consumer protection come from the United Nations. These principles emphasize that consumers should be protected “against risks to their health and safety“. They have the right to “access to adequate information to make informed choices“. This translates into simplicity, reliability and transparency in labelling. The information provided to consumers must be credible and verifiable.
For the last ten years, Option Consommateurs has participated actively in the discussion and debate on genetic engineering. Since 2000, we have produced eight research reports on specific issues related to GMOs, including food safety and the precautionary principle, Canadian readiness to provide traceability of food, and consumer participation in regulation. In short, over the years, Option Consommateurs has acquired a depth of expertise in consumer issues relating to GMOs.
The Canadian diet has changed radically in recent decades in terms of food consumption patterns and sourcing. Consumers have also become more demanding over the years. For example, since the latter part of the 20th century, the consumption of organic food in Canada has increased by 20% annually. More and more consumers want to eat healthy and good quality food.
Canadians want a real choice in matters dealing with GMOs. Approximately 80% of the Canadian population is in favour of mandatory labelling of GMOs. According to recent public opinion polls, in Quebec, it is 86% and in British Columbia, 79%.
Rightly or wrongly, consumers have many fears about GMOs. According to an Angus Reid poll, they worry about their health effects. They also wonder what impact this type of production has on the environment. We should note that Canadians know very little about methods of food production, whether it be in conventional agriculture, organic or genetically engineered food. Moreover, very few understand the regulatory process for GMOs.