Retail Grocery Industry Supports Federal GMO Legislation

(July 16, 2015) In advance of the pending House Agriculture Committee held on Tuesday, FMI and NGA sent a letter to the committee members in support of H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The legislation, sponsored by Reps. Pompeo and Butterfield and co-sponsored by 67 other members of Congress, requires FDA to develop a federal standard for labeling non-genetically engineered products and would also supersede all other jurisdictions, avoiding a patchwork of state laws. The House Agriculture Committee did in fact mark on the legislation on Tuesday, paving the way for House floor action, as soon as next week.

Federal GMO Labeling Bill Introduced

(April 17, 2014)  Legislation was introduced last week by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jim Matheson (D-UT), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) –see the following bill text (H.R. 4432) that will require the voluntary labeling of GMO products. It will also pre-empt state laws which would help prevent a patchwork of 50 separate state labeling laws.

OGA will work with our FMI, NGA and our other Federal partners to further analyze this legislation. OGA is still monitoring the potential for a state GMO ballot issue in Ohio. Please contact OGA President Kristin Mullins with questions or comments.