The European Council of Environment Ministers agreed today on a compromise regarding traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms in food, feed and the environment. The regulation requires unique identifiers for GMOs and precise inidication of each GMO in any particular food, feed or seed lot and their shipments. It will also allow for monitoring of GMOs in the environment and This regulation will complement the EU regulations on genetically modified food and feed, which have been adopted by the Council of Agricultural ministers on November 28th. Some of the provisions regarding thresholds for unintended presence of certain GMOs and their labelling are still contentious between the Council and the Parliament, which will have to adopt the regulation in spring 2003. And interim allowance for up to 0,5% of GMOs not authorised within the EU, but considered safe by it`s scientific advisory bodies, might not be approved by the Parliament.Common Position of the Council of Ministers for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms, December 9, 2002 (preliminary version)<a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/eu_traceability_council_agreem_09122002.pdf">official text of the Council</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/eu_traceability_memo_09122002.pdf">Memorandum on the Common Position</a>