Vermont Will Be The First State To Require Mandatory GMO Labeling

By Laurel Maloy, contributing writer, Food Online

Vermont House Bill H. 0112, legislature relating to the labeling of food produced with genetic engineering, is close to becoming law

Consumers across the nation, as well as 50 bill sponsors, are awaiting final passage of House Bill H. 0112. The bill passed the Vermont House last year, but has been waiting for the Vermont Senate to make changes. The bill is now on its way back to the House and, if approved, will head to the governor’s desk. Governor Peter Shumlin has indicated that he will most likely sign it. If all goes according to plan, the new law will take effect on Jul 1, 2016.

Vermont House Bill H. 0112:

• Will require labeling of all processed foods containing GMO ingredients sold at all Vermont retail outlets
• Will prohibit manufacturers from describing any foods containing GMO products as “natural” or “all natural”
• Will require a completed report from the state attorney general’s office, along with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, on recommendations for GMO labeling of milk products. The report is due by Jan 15, 2015.
• Will not apply to animal feeds
• Will not apply to some food-processing aids, such as enzymes for making yogurt
• Will not apply to milk and milk products at this time

Ronnie Cummins, National Director of the Organic Consumers Association said, “Today’s victory has been 20 years in the making!” He elaborated by reminding everyone that since the early 1990s, when GMOs were first introduced, U.S. consumers have fought for GMO labeling.

Unlike neighbors Maine and Connecticut’s bills, Vermont’s has no contingency clause. Vermont’s bill will not be contingent upon its neighbors passing similar legislation. However, this victory may be short lived. U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives last week. If passed, the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” would not only prohibit mandatory GMO labeling, but would also forbid states from drafting their own statutes.

In recent years, several states have attempted to pass GMO labeling legislation but failed due to the interference of large, well-funded industry groups. In California and Washington State, the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food reportedly spent some $60 million fighting GMO labeling initiatives. Its membership roster reads like the Who’s Who of U.S. and global food processing. Its members include such industry power hitters as: Biotechnology Industry Organization, the American Soybean Association, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and the National Grain & Feed Association. All of its 35 listed members have an economic interest in defeating GMO labeling initiatives and have the money and influence to keep it from happening.

The question consumers must be asking themselves is, “why?” If GMOs are truly safe, why are these groups so determined to defeat legislation that simply identifies those products containing GMOs?   Recently, some large-scale retailers have demonstrated their support for the consumer, and are encouraging others to follow suit. It seems that even the industry big-wigs cannot come to a consensus on the safety of genetically-modified food products.