GMA Applauds Senate Passage Of National GMO Disclosure Bill

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) recently issued the following statement from Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO, on U.S. Senate passage of bipartisan national legislation on disclosure of genetically engineered ingredients.

“This strong, bipartisan Senate vote is a milestone moment in the efforts to provide consumers clear and consistent information about their food and beverage products and to prevent a patchwork of costly and confusing state labeling laws that would hurt consumers, farmers and businesses. We call for the House to vote on this commonsense solution next week before its July recess.

“We are very grateful to Senators Roberts and Stabenow for their leadership to win Senate passage of this commonsense solution.

“The stakes could not be higher. Vermont’s mandatory on-package GMO labeling law, which took effect on July 1, threatens to disrupt the nation’s food supply chain with costly and lasting impacts. The fact is that consumers and small businesses in the state are already facing fewer products on the shelves and higher costs of compliance on small businesses, and this will only increase unless Congress acts quickly to pass this federal bill.

“America’s food industry fully supports the disclosure requirement in this legislation. We know that shoppers want more information about their food. Our innovative SmartLabel technology initiative will be one way under the federal legislation that consumers can get access to information about genetically engineered ingredients – and many other ingredients and product attributes. It enables them to get much more information than ever before – and more than could ever fit on a package label. More than 1,150 products already are using SmartLabel and are listed on the SmartLabel.org website. We project that more than 34,000 products will be using SmartLabel by the end of 2017.”

About The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is the trade organization representing the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies and associated partners. The U.S. food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry has facilities in 30,000 communities, generates $1T in sales annually, contributes $415B in added value to the economy every year and is the single largest U.S. manufacturing industry with 1.7 million manufacturing workers. Founded in 1908, GMA has a primary focus on product safety, science-based public policies and industry initiatives that seek to empower people with the tools and information they need to make informed choices and lead healthier lives. For more information, visit gmaonline.org.