基改標示涉及之WTO法律問題研析【本期企劃】 試閱
WTO Agreements and Genetically Modified Food Labelling
自基改產品問世以來，各界對於其安全性始終存在疑慮，基改技術本身也因涉及道德、宗教以及可能造成之環境問題而存在爭議。雖然過往30餘年間，並未有明確科學證據顯示基改產品較傳統產品具較高之風險，而須基於保護人類生命和健康，或出於動、植物健康考量，對基改產品進行額外管制；但隨著消費者意識抬頭，且基改產品本身存在食品安全外之道德等爭議，許多開放基改產品流通之國家仍要求基改產品應透過產品標示之方法，揭露產品含基改成分或係由基改原物料所生產。鑑於對基改產品之管制（不論是完全禁止或要求標示）曾引發其是否符合世界貿易組織（WTO）規範之討論，特別是該等非關稅貿易障礙措施是否符合WTO下食品安全檢驗與動植物防疫檢疫措施協定（SPS協定）以及技術性貿易障礙協定（TBT協定）規範，本文擬就基改標示涉及之WTO法律問題進行探討，並提出設計或實施基改標示規範時應持續關注之問題。
Since the advent of genetically modified (GM) products, the public has been concerned about their safety and possible environmental threats. The morality and religious questions and debates associated with the development and use of GM technology also flare up further controversy. Nevertheless, without scientific evidence showing that GM products bear higher risks than traditional products, the necessity of imposing additional restrictions and regulations on GM products based on protecting human life and health or animal and plant health becomes questionable. Alternatively, countries impose labeling requirements on GMO products to deter deceptive commercial practices and to ensure the consumers’ right to know. Through assessing whether the labeling requirement imposed on GMO products violates WTO law, particularly the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement), this paper address the issues that require further attention when designing or implementing GM labeling schemes.
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