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| Image: Phil Roeder |
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) on July 7 commended the US Senate for passing, by a 63-30 vote, bipartisan legislation that would federally pre-empt a potential patchwork of differing state laws regarding the labelling of human food and animal feed containing biotechnology-enhanced ingredients.
Developed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (Republican-Kansas), and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, (Democrat-Michigan), the legislation would provide certainty by pre-empting Vermont's mandatory GMO labelling law, which went into effect earlier this month, in favour of a uniform national standard that would provide an efficient mechanism for consumers who wish to know more about food products, including the biotech content of food. Easy access to this information will be disclosed on products without forcing other consumers to incur exponential increases in food costs.
The NGFA urged the House of Representatives to join in an expedited effort to approve the Senate-passed legislation. A national biotech food labelling solution is needed to avert major supply chain disruptions and inefficiencies in production, storage, transportation, manufacturing and distribution of food and feed that would translate into significant cost increases for consumers.
"NGFA appreciates the House for taking the lead almost a year ago to provide a voluntary, national biotech labelling solution," said NGFA President Randy Gordon.
"With all things being equal, we would have preferred the House's prudent approach. But now, the choice is between the Senate-passed bill, the Vermont law or further delay and uncertainty, and of those, the Senate bill is by far the preferable option. The supply chain that provides the most abundant and affordable food supply the world has ever seen needs certainty on this issue, which makes it vitally important to enact a solution as quickly as possible that does not misinform consumers or denigrate crop technology and innovations that time and time again have been scientifically proven to be safe for consumers and the environment."
Read more HERE.
Developed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (Republican-Kansas), and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, (Democrat-Michigan), the legislation would provide certainty by pre-empting Vermont's mandatory GMO labelling law, which went into effect earlier this month, in favour of a uniform national standard that would provide an efficient mechanism for consumers who wish to know more about food products, including the biotech content of food. Easy access to this information will be disclosed on products without forcing other consumers to incur exponential increases in food costs.
The NGFA urged the House of Representatives to join in an expedited effort to approve the Senate-passed legislation. A national biotech food labelling solution is needed to avert major supply chain disruptions and inefficiencies in production, storage, transportation, manufacturing and distribution of food and feed that would translate into significant cost increases for consumers.
"NGFA appreciates the House for taking the lead almost a year ago to provide a voluntary, national biotech labelling solution," said NGFA President Randy Gordon.
"With all things being equal, we would have preferred the House's prudent approach. But now, the choice is between the Senate-passed bill, the Vermont law or further delay and uncertainty, and of those, the Senate bill is by far the preferable option. The supply chain that provides the most abundant and affordable food supply the world has ever seen needs certainty on this issue, which makes it vitally important to enact a solution as quickly as possible that does not misinform consumers or denigrate crop technology and innovations that time and time again have been scientifically proven to be safe for consumers and the environment."
Read more HERE.
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