Iowa Ag Connection - Congress Should Pass Roberts-Stabenow GMO Labeling Agreement

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Congress Should Pass Roberts-Stabenow GMO Labeling Agreement
By: Bob Hemesath, Iowa Corn Growers Association - 06/24/2016

We thank U.S. Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) for putting forth an agreement which will address the growing threat of a patchwork of state biotech labeling laws. We urge Congress to act quickly in passage of this agreed upon legislation. On behalf of Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), I call on Iowa farmers to contact their elected officials and ask them to vote in favor of this legislation.

The necessity that the U.S. Senate and House both take up this issue immediately cannot be understated. Failure to do so will allow the Vermont law to go unchecked setting a chain reaction of precedent for states' to make their own laws which would hinder interstate commerce, severely disrupt the U.S. farm and food industry, and raise food prices.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Statistic Service, 93 percent of Iowa's corn crop last year was genetically modified. Iowa's farmers rely on GMO crops not only to reduce soil erosion and pesticide applications, but also keep food costs affordable for families around the world. Nearly 2,000 studies have been conducted proving GMO products to be safe, including one by the American Medical Association.

Multiple studies have shown the risks and associated costs with Vermont's GMO-labeling law. The food chain system from farmers to the food manufactures would face unsurmountable challenges and ultimately the consumers would pay the price with higher food costs.

The proposed legislation would immediately preempt all state laws -- barring any state from enacting labeling requirements that differ from federal standards. The proposed legislation also contains the following provisions:

-- Allows companies to disclose GMO ingredients through several options including text on package, a symbol, or an electronic link to a website.

-- Makes clear the label cannot use text on the package that could be used to denigrate biotechnology.

-- Allows for websites or telephone numbers to satisfy the requirement for small food manufacturers. Very small food manufacturers and restaurants are exempt.

-- Within one year of passage, will require USDA to study any potential access concerns related to using wireless and telephone networks as off-package means of disclosure.

-- Applies to all human food subject to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act labeling requirements as well as some meat and poultry products. Exempts those foods where meat, poultry, and egg products are the main ingredient.

-- Prohibits the Secretary from considering any food product derived from an animal to be bioengineered solely because the animal may have eaten bioengineered feed.

-- A food that is not subject to the disclosure requirement cannot automatically claim to be "non-biotech." Organic products are permitted to make a "non-biotech" claim.

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