July 15, 2014 - Blogs
House legislation that would preempt states from requiring labeling of genetically engineered foods is still sitting at a committee where it was assigned in April.
Critics of the bill have moved to ensure its demise. Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, and groups in favor of labeling genetically engineering foods, assembled last week on Capitol Hill to protest the bill, which would also preclude the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from imposing mandatory labels based solely on the fact that the food includes bioengineered ingredients.
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) introduced the “Safe and Accurate Labeling Act of 2014". He said the bill affirms FDA’s authority to require a label for foods that are considered unsafe and would eliminate the potential for a patchwork of state regulations that could drive up food costs, mislead consumers and burden farmers.
The legislation has 26 cosponsors and was assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. According to GovTrack, the legislation has just a 17 percent chance of making it past committee and a 3 percent chance of being enacted.
Opponents of the bill have named it the DARK Act (Deny Americans the Right to Know Act) because they say it would thwart state efforts around the nation to require labels on genetically engineered foods or so-called GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
“I came to Washington to stand up for transparency in our nation’s food supply," Greenfield said, according to the Center for Food Safety. “I hope legislation that would keep consumers in the dark never sees the light of day, so states can continue to demand more information about their food."
Greenfield and the pro-labeling advocates delivered to lawmakers the names of more than half a million people who oppose Pompeo’s bill and urged them to support competing legislation that would require a federal label on genetically engineered foods. Last year, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act.
States have been taking matters into their own hands. Over the last two years, more than 70 GMO labeling bills and ballot initiatives have been introduced in more than 30 states, according to the Center for Food Safety. Connecticut, Maine and Vermont have passed into law GMO labeling bills, although Vermont is the only state whose legislation takes effect without the need for passage of similar bills in other states.
Last month, a powerful trade group (Grocery Manufacturers Association) in favor of Pompeo’s bill and three other trade groups sued Vermont to block the law from taking effect. According to the lawsuit, Act 120 violates the First Amendment and a number of other provisions of the U.S. Constitution. The trade groups claimed the law will severely burden the food industry because most foods today at grocery stores contain GMOs.
House legislation that would preempt states from requiring labeling of genetically engineered foods is still sitting at a committee where it was assigned in April.
Critics of the bill have moved to ensure its demise. Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, and groups in favor of labeling genetically engineering foods, assembled last week on Capitol Hill to protest the bill, which would also preclude the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from imposing mandatory labels based solely on the fact that the food includes bioengineered ingredients.
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) introduced the “Safe and Accurate Labeling Act of 2014". He said the bill affirms FDA’s authority to require a label for foods that are considered unsafe and would eliminate the potential for a patchwork of state regulations that could drive up food costs, mislead consumers and burden farmers.
The legislation has 26 cosponsors and was assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. According to GovTrack, the legislation has just a 17 percent chance of making it past committee and a 3 percent chance of being enacted.
Opponents of the bill have named it the DARK Act (Deny Americans the Right to Know Act) because they say it would thwart state efforts around the nation to require labels on genetically engineered foods or so-called GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
“I came to Washington to stand up for transparency in our nation’s food supply," Greenfield said, according to the Center for Food Safety. “I hope legislation that would keep consumers in the dark never sees the light of day, so states can continue to demand more information about their food."
Greenfield and the pro-labeling advocates delivered to lawmakers the names of more than half a million people who oppose Pompeo’s bill and urged them to support competing legislation that would require a federal label on genetically engineered foods. Last year, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act.
States have been taking matters into their own hands. Over the last two years, more than 70 GMO labeling bills and ballot initiatives have been introduced in more than 30 states, according to the Center for Food Safety. Connecticut, Maine and Vermont have passed into law GMO labeling bills, although Vermont is the only state whose legislation takes effect without the need for passage of similar bills in other states.
Last month, a powerful trade group (Grocery Manufacturers Association) in favor of Pompeo’s bill and three other trade groups sued Vermont to block the law from taking effect. According to the lawsuit, Act 120 violates the First Amendment and a number of other provisions of the U.S. Constitution. The trade groups claimed the law will severely burden the food industry because most foods today at grocery stores contain GMOs.
