The GMO labeling debate continues. The U.S. House of Representatives passed The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (HR 1599) last week by a vote of 275 to 150, banning state GMO food labeling laws. The state laws would force food producers to put labels on products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), according to an article in the Star Tribune.
Earlier this month, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 was passed by the Agriculture Committee. The bill to impose voluntary labeling standards on foods made with genetically engineered ingredients, blocking mandatory rules, will “set the stage for a showdown with implications for consumers and the biotechnology industry,” stated a recent article on TheHill.com.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) in March, is said to create a federal standard for the voluntary labeling of foods that contain GMOs, and pre-empt states from enacting their own mandatory labeling laws.
American Seed Trade Association President and CEO Andrew W. LaVigne released the following statement last week on the House of Representatives passage of H.R. 1599:
“The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is pleased to be among more than 400 organizations representing all parts of the food chain in applauding the swift consideration and passage of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act by the House of Representatives.
“We are glad to see the House of Representatives recognize that genetic engineering is an important tool for American agriculture. This legislation ensures a uniform approach to food labeling which will provide valuable information to American consumers without unnecessarily increasing grocery store prices. A potential patchwork of state food labeling regulations would be misleading and costly to comply with and enforce.
“ASTA members have actively engaged their representatives in the House and we encourage prompt Senate action.”
Supporters of labeling, however, say the ban takes away citizens and states’ rights.
According to the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, “the bill flies in the face of public opinion by denying citizens the right to choose what they eat and feed their families and throws out all state efforts to label genetically engineered (GE) food, such as the laws already passed in Maine, Connecticut, and Vermont.
For additional information on the GMO labeling debate, click here.