WASHINGTON, March 30, 2016 - Even as a bill has stalled in
the Senate for national biotech labeling, activists in several Northeastern
states are pushing to get mandatory GMO bills passed before their legislatures
adjourn. Although the bills are similar to a Vermont law, set to take effect in
July, they aren’t necessarily identical. That means there could still be
significant pressure on the Senate to act on a bill to preempt state labeling laws
this month even as food companies start printing the labels necessary to comply
with the Vermont law.
A Massachusetts bill, which was approved by the Joint
Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture earlier this month,
would impose labeling requirements if surrounding states enact similar laws.
Connecticut already has a labeling requirement with a similar provision, but
there is an effort in the legislature to strip the trigger.
A pair of words in the Massachusetts bill points to
challenges that a patchwork of state labeling laws could pose for food
companies as well as the seed industry and farmers. The bill’s definition of
genetic engineering includes the term “gene deletion,” a reference to gene
editing, which doesn’t appear to be covered by the Vermont law, said Mike
Gruber, vice president of federal affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers
Association.
Existing biotech crop traits, often called “transgenic,”
have generally involved inserting bacterium genes into plants to make them
immune to herbicides or toxic to pests.
“Those definitions
are critical,” said Gruber. “It looks like Massachusetts is looking into the
future in whatever would be required to have a label.”
A key provision in the Senate legislation would require USDA
to set national standards for disclosure of biotech ingredients and limit the
techniques that would be covered. The Massachusetts bill also has different
record-keeping requirements for retailers.
Tara Cook-Littman, a GMO labeling activist, says there “is a very high probability” that
Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as Rhode Island could pass labeling bills
this year. The Connecticut legislature wraps up in May, but lawmakers in
Rhode Island and Massachusetts are in session until June and July,
respectively.
Cook-Littman, who is on the board of Citizens for GMO Labeling,
said she expected the bills to be altered during the legislative process to
bring them in line with Vermont’s “to create an easy path of compliance for
manufacturers.”
“I am not concerned that these efforts could push the
federal government to preempt the states,” she said. “To the contrary, state
action should drive the federal government to do the right thing and pass a law
that mirrors what the states have done.”
Food companies have continued to call for national standards
even as they have announced plans to comply with the Vermont law. “With a
multitude of other states currently considering different GMO labeling
requirements, the need for a national, uniform approach in this area is as
critical as ever,” said ConAgra Foods. “That’s why we continue to urge Congress
to pass a national solution as quickly as possible.”
#30
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