[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Bill would bar states from requiring the labeling of genetically engineered foods[/title][fusion_text]Wednesday, July 15th 2015
A bill that would bar states from requiring the labeling of genetically engineered foods could be on the House floor as soon as next week. The Safe and Affordable Food Labeling Act (HR 1599) was approved Tuesday by the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday on a voice vote during a 15-minute meeting. The bill, first introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., and G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., would stop states from requiring the labeling of food with genetically engineered ingredients and would set up a new certification process at USDA for foods labeled as non-GMO. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the Food and Drug Administration, is expected to waive its right to vote on the legislation. While the administration has not taken a position on the bill, USDA and FDA assisted with drafting it. While Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is working on the Senate version of the bill, no Democrat has come forward yet as a co-sponsor. The revised version of the bill that the committee approved would ensure that milk could only be labeled as non-GMO if the cows are fed non-biotech grain. It would also require FDA to write definitions for labeling foods as “natural.” The regulations for natural foods were included in the original bill introduced this spring but were dropped from a second version circulated in June. The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, made up of dozens of food companies and agricultural organizations, said Congress must pass the legislation this year. Vermont passed a mandatory GMO labeling law last year, which is to be implemented in 2016 should it survive a court challenge by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, a part of the coalition.
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