Late Thursday night, the Senate gave final approval to a compromise bill creating a national, uniform standard for GMO disclosure. The measure now heads to the House, where it must be approved by July 15 when it recesses until September.
The legislation, a compromise from Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, gives food companies three options for disclosing GMO ingredients including an on-package label, a USDA-approved symbol or an electronic code.
Meat and dairy products from animals fed genetically modified feed would be exempt, as well as restaurants and small food manufacturers.
“Today is a victory for farmers, ranchers, sound science, and anyone who eats on a budget,” Roberts said in a statement. “We worked hard to ensure the marketplace works for everyone. I mean everyone. Our legislation allows farmers to continue using sound science to produce more food with less resources, gives flexibility to food manufacturers in disclosing information, and gives access to more food information that consumers demand.”
Both Oklahoma Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford also voted in favor of the measure.
“Due to the growing number of states creating individual food labeling mandates, industry and the agriculture community will soon be facing a crushing burden from a patchwork of compliance standards,” Inhofe said in a release. “Once law, the food industry will have a clear and straightforward standard that in turn will provide Americans with relevant information for when they make their food choices.”
A number of Oklahoma agricultural organizations supported the legislation including the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Oklahoma Pork Council, American Farmers and Ranchers and others.
“Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers rely on genetically-modified crops to produce high-quality and affordable food for the world,” said Tom Buchanan, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “While no scientific evidence exists to warrant a mandatory GMO label, state-by-state labeling laws only confuse consumers and increase food prices.”
