The Senate Agriculture Committee on March 1 approved Chairman Pat Roberts' biotech labeling proposal on a bipartisan vote of 14-6.
According to MABA, the compromise legislation will provide strong preemption and a tight definition on 'bioengineering' immediately. Within one year, USDA will develop standards and definitions for the voluntarily labeling of foods from biotech ingredients.
After three years, USDA will make a determination if substantial participation by the marketplace in making information available regarding the presence or use of bioengineering in food. The threshold for use of the voluntary standard is expected to be 70 percent of most frequently consumed labeled foods. If it is determined that there is not substantial participation, USDA shall establish a national mandatory labeling standard that allows for a variety of disclosure methods, including: on-package labels, websites, scannable technology, call centers or other options considered appropriate by the Secretary. The mandatory disclosure requirement would be effective two years after the Secretary's determination and rulemaking are complete. Enforcement of the mandatory standard is accomplished through an examination and audit process that allows for a hearing before a summary of the audit is made public. Note: food served in restaurants would not be subject to this mandatory requirement.
The Montana Senators offices can be contacted today by dialing the main switchboard at 1-866-338-1015
MABA provided the following points:
-This legislation will pass a uniform, national food labeling standard for products made with GMO's so that Vermont's state labeling law is not allowed to harm family farms.
-With impending state labeling laws taking effect this summer, it is now time for Congress to act! Without congressional action, consumers will be left with a confusing labeling scheme that will increase food costs and limit choice.
-Increased food costs in Montana, where 15{f75e9bc95454961d27ea60375533d5bd3793c6b31aa68057771d9b5363a8de8e} of our population goes hungry would be a travesty.
-A 50-state patchwork of GMO labeling laws would mislead consumers, raise the price of groceries for American families and do nothing to advance food safety.
The House of Representatives passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599) on July 23, 2015.
For additional questions, contact Krista at (406) 227-3523
Source: Action Alert from the Montana Agricultural Business Association