U.S. Senate Passes GMO Labeling Bill (Updated)This blog post has been updated since its original publication. SummaryOn 7 July 2016, the U.S. Senate voted 63-30 to approve a genetically modified organisms (GMO) bill (S. 764) that, if enacted, would preempt state GMO labeling laws by making it a federal requirement that food companies label their products containing GMO ingredients in one of three possible ways: through disclosure on the product package, as a USDA-backed symbol signifying GMO content, or via an electronic code accessible by smartphone. The U.S. House of Representatives will now consider the bill passed by the Senate. 3E ReviewS. 764 amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 by establishing a national disclosure standard for bioengineered foods. If enacted into law, this federal legislation would preempt state GMO labeling laws, such as Vermont’s Act 120, which became effective 1 July 2016, and would require food companies to label products containing GMO ingredients by way of one of three options: through disclosure on the product package, as a USDA-backed symbol placed on the product signifying GMO content, or via an electronic code accessible by smartphone. Before becoming law, the bill must pass the U.S. House of Representatives. The House passed a GMO labeling bill in 2015 for a voluntary GMO labeling measure (HR 1599), but it did not advance beyond the House. Now U.S. Representatives will consider this new bill passed by the U.S. Senate. There is pressure from the food industry and public interest groups for the House to consider the new bill quickly, because the House will recess for the summer on 15 July 2016 until September 2016. 3E AnalysisInterested stakeholders should monitor the new Senate bill to see if it passes the House and, ultimately, if it is signed into law by the President. The bill will likely increase the labeling cost of food products and may also impact the consumer perception of GMO foods. UpdateOn 14 July 2016, U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 764, by a vote of 306-117, setting a federal standard for labeling of GMO/bioengineered food. The bill now heads to President Obama for signature, who has already expressed his intention to sign. Upon being signed into law, S. 764 will immediately preempt state GMO labeling laws such as Vermont's Act 120, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has two years to promulgate a regulation on a national mandatory labeling standard. Written by James Lee, 3E Company Sr. Regulatory Analyst for North America BILLS.764 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)A bill to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.
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