The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India

Labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods is a contentious issue and internationally, there is sharp division whether such labeling ought to be mandatory. This debate has reached India where the government has proposed mandatory labeling. In this context, this paper evaluates the optimal regulator...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bansal, Sangeeta, Ramaswami, Bharat
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160197
_version_ 1855534163375947776
author Bansal, Sangeeta
Ramaswami, Bharat
author_browse Bansal, Sangeeta
Ramaswami, Bharat
author_facet Bansal, Sangeeta
Ramaswami, Bharat
author_sort Bansal, Sangeeta
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods is a contentious issue and internationally, there is sharp division whether such labeling ought to be mandatory. This debate has reached India where the government has proposed mandatory labeling. In this context, this paper evaluates the optimal regulatory approach to GM food labels. Mandatory labeling aims to provide greater information and correspondingly more informed consumer choice. However, even without such laws, markets have incentives to supply labeling. So can mandatory labeling achieve outcomes different from voluntary labeling? The paper shows that this is not the case in most situations. The paper goes on to explore the special set of circumstances, where mandatory labeling makes a difference to outcomes. If these outcomes are intended, mandatory labeling is justified; otherwise not.
format Artículo preliminar
id CGSpace160197
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2007
publishDateRange 2007
publishDateSort 2007
publisher International Food Policy Research Institute
publisherStr International Food Policy Research Institute
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1601972025-11-06T07:08:31Z The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India Bansal, Sangeeta Ramaswami, Bharat biotechnology economic aspects biosafety food labeling genetically modified organisms developing countries Labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods is a contentious issue and internationally, there is sharp division whether such labeling ought to be mandatory. This debate has reached India where the government has proposed mandatory labeling. In this context, this paper evaluates the optimal regulatory approach to GM food labels. Mandatory labeling aims to provide greater information and correspondingly more informed consumer choice. However, even without such laws, markets have incentives to supply labeling. So can mandatory labeling achieve outcomes different from voluntary labeling? The paper shows that this is not the case in most situations. The paper goes on to explore the special set of circumstances, where mandatory labeling makes a difference to outcomes. If these outcomes are intended, mandatory labeling is justified; otherwise not. 2007 2024-11-21T09:50:15Z 2024-11-21T09:50:15Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160197 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Bansal, Sangeeta; Ramaswami, Bharat. The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India. IFPRI Discussion Paper 704. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160197
spellingShingle biotechnology
economic aspects
biosafety
food labeling
genetically modified organisms
developing countries
Bansal, Sangeeta
Ramaswami, Bharat
The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India
title The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India
title_full The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India
title_fullStr The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India
title_full_unstemmed The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India
title_short The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India
title_sort economics of gm food labels an evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in india
topic biotechnology
economic aspects
biosafety
food labeling
genetically modified organisms
developing countries
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160197
work_keys_str_mv AT bansalsangeeta theeconomicsofgmfoodlabelsanevaluationofmandatorylabelingproposalsinindia
AT ramaswamibharat theeconomicsofgmfoodlabelsanevaluationofmandatorylabelingproposalsinindia
AT bansalsangeeta economicsofgmfoodlabelsanevaluationofmandatorylabelingproposalsinindia
AT ramaswamibharat economicsofgmfoodlabelsanevaluationofmandatorylabelingproposalsinindia