USDA Develops Government Certification Program that Creates Burden for Producers of Non-GMO Foods
May 14, 2015
Contact: Katherine Paul,
Organic Consumers
Association,
katherine@organicconsumers.org, 207.653.3090
FINLAND, Minn—The Organic Consumers Association
(OCA) today responded to an Associated Press
article reporting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has
developed a new government certification and labeling program for foods
that are free of genetically modified ingredients.
“This is yet another gift to the biotech industry,” said Ronnie Cummins,
OCA’s international director. “Instead of requiring the manufacturers of
GMO foods to label their products, the USDA wants to penalize producers
of non-GMO foods by making them pay for a label to prove their products
are GMO-free. If we follow the biotech industry’s talking point that the
cost of GMO labels would be passed on to consumers, are we now going to
force consumers to pay more to avoid GMO food products—products whose
safety has been called into question by hundreds of scientists and
doctors? Instead of the other way around?”
Cummins continued, "We already have a good, third party independently
verified non-GMO certification process in the USA, in place for over a
decade. It's called 'USDA Organic' and it prohibits the use of GMOs.
Furthermore, for foods in transition to USDA Organic, or foods that may
have been inadvertently contaminated by GMOs, we have a lab verified and
verifiable labels such as 'Non-GMO Project.'"
“Consumers, more than
90 percent of whom want mandatory GMO labeling laws, should be
outraged that their tax dollars will be used to support a program that
puts the burden of identifying non-GMO ingredients on food manufacturers
whose products are GMO-free, while letting the manufacturers of GMO
foods off the hook,” Cummins said.
From the AP:
The certification is the first of its kind and would be voluntary — and companies would have to pay for it. If approved, the foods would be able to carry a "USDA Process Verified" label along with a claim that they are free of GMOs.
The new program mirrors the one proposed by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.)
as part of
HR 1599, the bill he is pushing on behalf of the Grocery
Manufacturers Association which is intended to preempt states’ rights to
pass mandatory GMO labeling laws.
“The industry’s so-far
unsuccessful attempt to stop Vermont’s GMO labeling law,
Act 120, from taking effect July 1, 2016, has the biotech
industry-loving USDA in a panic,” said Cummins. “This unnecessary, and
unfair program, will be used as a desperate ploy to convince lawmakers
in those states with GMO labeling bills in play, that they do not need
to pass these important consumer-protection laws.”
The Organic
Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit
501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice,
and sustainability. The Organic Consumers Fund is a 501(c)4 allied
organization of the Organic Consumers Association, focused on grassroots
lobbying and legislative action.