Jun 23, 2016
Deal reached in US Senate on GMO labeling

Senate lawmakers reached a deal Thursday, June 23 to label foods containing genetically modified ingredients, just eight days before Vermont’s first-in-the-nation labeling law takes effect in July.

The bipartisan legislation, reached following weeks of negotiations between Senate Agriculture Committee members Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., would establish a single nationwide, mandatory label for products containing the controversial ingredients found in up to 80 percent of packaged food products sold in the United States.

Reaction came quickly from several agricultural groups.

American Farm Bureau Federation:

“There are no – and never have been any- documented health risks from genetically engineered food in the marketplace. (We) continue to oppose mandatory food labels that are not necessary for health or safety reasons. We also oppose a patchwork of state-by-state labeling rules. We are reviewing this legislative proposal, and over the next few days will determine how it fits with our policy. We will also assess its impact on farmers’ abilities to use modern agricultural technology to produce more, high-quality food.

“We appreciate Chairman Roberts’ diligence in taking action prior to the Vermont law’s going into effect. This deal clearly seeks to prevent a 50-state mismatched quilt of differing labeling standards. But the mandatory feature holds significant potential to contribute to confusion and unnecessary alarm. Regardless of the outcome, we continue to believe a national, voluntary standard remains the best approach. Our board will deliver a decision soon.”

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Chuck Connor, president:

“The bipartisan agreement reached today by Senators Pat Roberts and Debbie Stabenow is a solution to the issue of GMO food labeling that America’s farmer co-ops and their producer-owners strongly supports. The package is also a victory for consumers across the country, who will have more information about how their food was produced than ever before.

“This agreement is now more important than ever, since the July 1 deadline for the Vermont labeling law is now a week away. By acting now, the chaos caused by a patchwork of labeling laws and an increase in costs associated with that can be largely avoided.

“I would like to recognize Senators Roberts and Stabenow for their leadership and hard work on this issue and for developing a package which can achieve broad bipartisan support. It is imperative that the Senate take up and pass this agreement without delay and that the House follows suit in short order.”

“This bipartisan bill is a win for consumers and families,” said Stabenow, top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee. “For the first time ever, consumers will have a national, mandatory label for food products that contain genetically modified ingredients.”

States would be blocked from putting in place their own labels, avoiding food companies’ concerns about the costs and other difficulties of having to comply with a confusing patchwork of different state labels. They had warned those costs would be passed on to consumers through higher prices.

Under the legislation introduced Thursday, the USDA would have two years to complete the labeling regulations.

If the legislation becomes law, food companies could select from among three options to notify consumers if a product contains GMO ingredients. They could change labels to include either “contains genetically modified organisms” or a GMO label created by the Agriculture Department; or they could adopt an electronic option such as a QR code.

The electronic option would have to link consumers to a prominently display or announcement disclosing the presence of GMOs. The USDA would have one year from when the law is passed to determine if there are any technological challenges preventing consumers from accessing GMO information using electronic mediums.

“Unless we act now, Vermont law denigrating biotechnology and causing confusion in the marketplace is the law of the land,” said Chairman Roberts. “Our marketplace – both consumers and producers – needs a national biotechnology standard to avoid chaos in interstate commerce.”

“In negotiations with Ranking Member Stabenow, I fought to ensure this standard recognizes the 30-plus years of proven safety of biotechnology while ensuring consumer access to more information about their food.”

“I urge my colleagues to support this approach. It is a far better alternative than Vermont’s law with its destructive ramifications up and down the supply chain.”

Visit the Senate Ag Committee website to read the legislative text. Key provisions of the bipartisan proposal include:

  • Pre-emption: immediately prohibits states or other entities from mandating labels of food or seed that is genetically engineered.
  • National Uniform Standard: the U.S. Department of Agriculture establishes through rulemaking a uniform national disclosure standard for human food that is or may be bioengineered.
  • Disclosure: requires mandatory disclosure with several options, including text on package, a symbol, or a link to a website (QR code or similar technology); small food manufacturers will be allowed to use websites or telephone numbers to satisfy disclosure requirements; very small manufacturers and restaurants are exempted.
  • Meat: foods where meat, poultry, and egg products are the main ingredient are exempted. The legislation prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from considering any food product derived from an animal to be bioengineered solely because the animal may have eaten bioengineered feed.

“As I have said before, I will continue to stand up for the farmers and ranchers that produce the safest and most affordable food in the world,” Roberts said. “I will not ignore the overwhelming science that has determined biotechnology to be safe, but with the implementation of Vermont’s disruptive law on the horizon, it is our duty to act. I urge my colleagues to join me.”

Gary Pullano, associate editor


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