Senate Strikes Down Motion to Vote on Biotech Food Labeling
The Senate on March 16 voted 49-48 to strike down a motion for a cloture vote on Sen. Pat Roberts’, R-Kan., Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Bill, which would have established a national voluntary bioengineered food labeling standard and supersede applicable state laws, according to a summary of the bill (here). The legislation itself (here) would also direct the Agriculture Department to provide the public with science-based education, outreach, and promotion, alongside other federal agencies, regarding bioengineered food.
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Roberts said in a statement (here) that he remains ready to work on a solution to what he calls unclear national biotech labeling standards. He challenged Congressional opponents of the bill to offer counter-proposals, saying that the status quo risks increasing consumer costs and promoting further marketplace uncertainty for farmers and manufacturers. “I have repeatedly put forward proposals to protect farmers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers,” Roberts said. “I have been flexible and have compromised in order to address concerns about making information available to consumers. Simply put, if we are to have a solution, opponents of our bill must be willing to do the same.”
The bill would have also required USDA to annually report to Congress on the availability of information pertaining to whether food “is or is not bioengineered or whether bioengineering was or was not used in the development or production of food,” including labels authorized under private voluntary programs and federal and state authorities. According to the bill summary, the bill would define food according to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, and would preempt any state law relating to whether labeling of food or seed is genetically engineered, or developed or produced using the method, such as labeling laws in Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, and Alaska.
Terming it the "Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act," the Center for Food Safety applauded the strikedown after sending a letter (here) to senators on March 16 urging them to oppose the legislation, in part, they said because it would have made it harder for poor Americans to check how agricultural products were manufactured. The bill contains language that would establish methods involving websites, call-in numbers, and smartphone QR codes to determine whether foods were genetically engineered, in lieu of mandatory package labeling. “The defeat of the DARK Act is a major victory for the food movement and America’s right to know,” CFS Executive Director Andrew Kimbrell said in a statement (here). “It also is an important victory for Democracy over the attempt of corporate interests to keep Americans in the Dark about the foods they buy and feed their families.”