Food companies, meanwhile, are working on voluntary labeling and processing standards.

We would certainly like to see this whole thing resolved into a system that everyone could live with, and we think that voluntary labeling is the way to go.

But that must be done through voluntary labeling and a rigorously enforced rating system.

Ms. Watkins said Monsanto believes that voluntary labeling is all right.

However, the FDA is considering permitting voluntary labeling about the presence or absence of biotechnology in foods.

The AMA believes that even voluntary labeling is misleading unless accompanied by focused consumer education.

(In the United States, Federal officials have only recently said they will consider voluntary labeling.)

One plan was to develop guidelines for the voluntary labeling of meat products from the United States.

Food companies have also pushed for voluntary labeling.

It supports "voluntary labeling," to which the recording industry has agreed since 1985.