Norway has developed and instituted the Norwegian Gene Technology Act to include the needs of their economy and society in the national regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).  Many Norwegians, especially farmers, are opposed to GMOs, and are concerned about the impact on a global level (in view of the globalization of the food supply).

The Norwegian law requires emphasis on the environment, health and society in countries where foods are grown and consumed.  The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the European Union (EU) considers negative effects in the EU, only.  By contrast, Norway considers “global impact and ecological limits”.

The researchers studied applications for GMO marketing in Norway and found that they, actually, contained little information about global impact and ecological limits.  They were, also, addressing “basic human needs, distribution between generations, distribution between rich and poor countries and economic growth”.

It is important to evaluate whether GMO technology benefits small or large farms and whether there would be an impact on “employment, food security, landscape aesthetics, or human and animal health and welfare…”  The problem is that there has been little study of these factors up to this point.

CONCLUSION:  The author’s analysis of the Norwegian law is that it sounds useful for control of GMOs.  But, it was found that applications for marketing of GMOs in Norway provide very little information on sustainability and societal utility in Norway and around the world.

NOTE:  There are insufficient studies at this time; however, there are a number of very good scientific studies that have been largely ignored showing that GMO-related products have negative health effects on human health.  Many studies done by the GMO industry are of poor quality.  For example, studies of the hormonal effects of these products are done on animals for only 3 months, and this is an insufficient time to study the hormonal changes, which can be passed on for several generations.

NOTE: Read more about the importance of labeling GMOs. Read about organ pathology in animals fed genetically modified food.

To read the author’s abstract, click on the link to the author’s title of the article above. Then, to read the full article, click on the free full text icon.

PMID: 19721462.

Summary #514.