Senate’s GMO-Labeling Bill Moves to House

The U.S. Senate passed a bill last week that directs USDA to create a national GMO label standard within two years. Food product producers would be able to use text, symbols or QR codes for consumers to scan labels. The Senate bill also would prevent states from issuing their own mandatory GMO labeling laws.

The late-night vote came after Democrats ran out the procedural clock and blocked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) from scheduling votes earlier.

McConnell called the legislation a “compromise bill that would protect middle-class families from unnecessary and unfair higher food prices while also ensuring access to information about the food they purchase.”

Democrats who voted for the legislation said they based their vote on science.

“I urge my colleagues to stop denying science and start understanding GMO ingredients are just as healthy for American consumers as any other ingredient,” said Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the labeling debate is not over whether GMOs are safe or unsafe.

“The labeling would not be in any way a warning to consumers,” he said. “It would be informational only. The debate here and the objective of this measure is to provide information as dispassionately, clearly and objectively as possible. That’s the goal.”

On Friday, House Ag Committee chair Mike Conaway (R-Texas) said he sought clarification from Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on what he called “problematic provisions” in the bill.

“After spending the past week and a half studying the legislation and meeting with agricultural producers, along with a variety of other stakeholders,” Conaway said, “I have come to the conclusion that the Senate bill is riddled with ambiguity and affords the Secretary a concerning level of discretion.”

The House will take up the bill before the chamber adjourns.

Source: DTN’s Washington Insider