Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PRETORIA884
2009-05-04 09:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
South Africa's Response to CCFL Demarche
how-toVZCZCXRO5343 RR RUEHDU RUEHJO DE RUEHSA #0884 1240916 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 040916Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8334 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 2014 INFO RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 6807 RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 9147 RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 0918
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000884
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/MTA FOR Jack Bobo
STATE PASS USTR FOR Melissa Clarkson
USDA FOR FAS/OSTA/NTPMD Priscilla Joseph and Farah Naim
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO
SUBJECT: South Africa's Response to CCFL Demarche
REF: State 038413
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000884
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/MTA FOR Jack Bobo
STATE PASS USTR FOR Melissa Clarkson
USDA FOR FAS/OSTA/NTPMD Priscilla Joseph and Farah Naim
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO
SUBJECT: South Africa's Response to CCFL Demarche
REF: State 038413
1. Ag Attache provided reftel demarche points to the South African
Codex Point of Contact, Malose Daniel Matlala, Deputy Director,
Inter-agency Liaison and Regulatory Nutrition, Department of Health,
Directorate of Food Control on April 24, 2009. The official
responded that South Africa will not send a delegation to the
Calgary meeting for administrative reasons.
2. In a written response to the demarche, Mr. Matlala acknowledges
the USG's request for support of its proposal on labeling of foods
and food ingredients obtained through GM/GE. He states, however,
that South Africa is not in a position to comment on the issue in
view of the possibility that the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) might require mandatory labeling under the proposed Consumer
Protection Bill. Since the Bill's mandatory labeling requirement is
based on a consumer's "right to know" and is not related to food
safety or public health concerns, Mr. Matlala suggested that the
Department of Health's Directorate of Food Control will continue to
discuss the implementation of this requirement with the DTI.
3. Note: Subsequent to the Directorate's written reponse, the
President of South Africa signed the Consumer Protection Bill into
law on April 30.
3. Comment: Over the past year, OAA/Pretoria has been reviewing
with FAS/Washington and State/EEB the implications of this mandatory
GM labeling requirement on agricultural biotechnology developments
in South Africa and the region. Post has received funding from
State/EEB to bring U.S. speakers on the subject to reach out to
Parliament and others involved on the practicalities of implementing
mandatory GMO labeling. Since this bill also has the potential to
affect U.S. food imports into South Africa, OAA/Pretoria has
requested funding from the FAS/Emerging Market Program to support an
educational trip for regulators and media to the United States. This
funding was not approved in FY09, but will be resubmitted for
consideration in FY10. End Comment.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/MTA FOR Jack Bobo
STATE PASS USTR FOR Melissa Clarkson
USDA FOR FAS/OSTA/NTPMD Priscilla Joseph and Farah Naim
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO
SUBJECT: South Africa's Response to CCFL Demarche
REF: State 038413
1. Ag Attache provided reftel demarche points to the South African
Codex Point of Contact, Malose Daniel Matlala, Deputy Director,
Inter-agency Liaison and Regulatory Nutrition, Department of Health,
Directorate of Food Control on April 24, 2009. The official
responded that South Africa will not send a delegation to the
Calgary meeting for administrative reasons.
2. In a written response to the demarche, Mr. Matlala acknowledges
the USG's request for support of its proposal on labeling of foods
and food ingredients obtained through GM/GE. He states, however,
that South Africa is not in a position to comment on the issue in
view of the possibility that the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) might require mandatory labeling under the proposed Consumer
Protection Bill. Since the Bill's mandatory labeling requirement is
based on a consumer's "right to know" and is not related to food
safety or public health concerns, Mr. Matlala suggested that the
Department of Health's Directorate of Food Control will continue to
discuss the implementation of this requirement with the DTI.
3. Note: Subsequent to the Directorate's written reponse, the
President of South Africa signed the Consumer Protection Bill into
law on April 30.
3. Comment: Over the past year, OAA/Pretoria has been reviewing
with FAS/Washington and State/EEB the implications of this mandatory
GM labeling requirement on agricultural biotechnology developments
in South Africa and the region. Post has received funding from
State/EEB to bring U.S. speakers on the subject to reach out to
Parliament and others involved on the practicalities of implementing
mandatory GMO labeling. Since this bill also has the potential to
affect U.S. food imports into South Africa, OAA/Pretoria has
requested funding from the FAS/Emerging Market Program to support an
educational trip for regulators and media to the United States. This
funding was not approved in FY09, but will be resubmitted for
consideration in FY10. End Comment.