National GMO Solutions Labeling Bill Passes Ag Committee, Moves to Full Senate

Last week, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry voted 14-6 to pass a bill creating a national solution for a state-by-state patchwork of biotechnology labeling laws. The Biotechnology Labeling Solutions bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

“It is clear that what we’re facing today is not a safety or health issue. It is a market issue,” said U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Committee. “This is really a conversation about a few states dictating to every state the way food moves from farmers to consumers in the value chain. We have a responsibility to ensure that the national market can work for everyone, including farmers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.”

“The Chairman’s Mark puts forward policies that will help consumers not only find information, but also demand information from manufacturers. However, it is important, as with any federal legislation on this topic, for Congress to consider scientific fact and unintended consequences.”

“Simply put, the legislation before us provides an immediate and comprehensive solution to the state-by-state patchwork of labeling laws. It sets national uniformity, based on science, for labeling food or seeds that are genetically engineered. This allows the value chain from farmer-to-processor-to-shipper-to-retailer-to-consumer to continue as the free market intended.” 

The legislation has the support of more than 650 farmers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, processors, seed makers, handlers, food and feed manufacturers, lenders, and retailers. 

The U.S. House of Representatives last July passed legislation on this topic with a bipartisan vote of 275-150.

The Senate Agriculture Committee last October held a hearing on agriculture biotechnology with federal regulators and perspectives from producers and consumers – the first biotechnology hearing in 10 years. The hearing focused on science and the role of the regulatory system to help ensure a safe and affordable food supply for consumers at home and around the globe.

Watch the hearing here or read Chairman Roberts’ opening statement.