Motion (by Senator Woodley, at the request of Senator Stott Despoja) not agreed to:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the health ministers from Australian states and territories and the Commonwealth, together with the New Zealand health minister, are meeting on 16 December 1998 to consider the labelling of food containing genetically-modified materials, and

(ii) the Commonwealth Government has proposed a test for labelling based on the distinction known as `substantial equivalence', so that a food is labelled only if it is substantially different;

(b) expresses concern the term `substantial equivalence' has an uncertain meaning and does not have meaning for most consumers; and

(b) calls on the Government to label all food which is or includes genetically-modified materials.