Two national grocery associations praised President Obama for signing into law a biotechnology labeling bill that creates a national labeling standard for food products made with genetically engineered ingredients and genetically modified organisms. President Obama signed S. 764 into law, a bi-partisan, bi-cameral action that sets in place one national standard for GMO disclosure that brings consistency, certainty and an end to restrictions on interstate commerce facing retailers, manufacturers and customers.
Leslie G. Saracen, President, Food Marketing Institute
“I am proud of the food retail industry’s role in helping get this legislation approved on Capitol Hill and now signed into law by President Obama. I am convinced it will help circumvent further consumer confusion on the already misunderstood and complex topic of GMOs.
“I am grateful that this law will help avoid further disruption in the interstate commerce of food products. And I am encouraged that this law allows our industry to move beyond the traditional label and toward exploration of new and unprecedented ways of providing our customers with the information they need in making the wisest food choices for themselves and their families. In addition to the President’s role in signing it into law, we are most appreciative of the part U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and his team played during critical times in the legislative history of this law and will now play in implementation.
“The journey for this legislation from introduction on Capitol Hill to ratification in the Oval Office was a long and bumpy one, but this law will go a long way in helping us better achieve our mission of successfully feeding families and enriching lives.
“We sincerely extend our thanks to the President, Secretary Vilsack, and leaders in Congress who worked so diligently on a compromise, especially Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), as well as House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Ranking Democrat Collin Peterson (D-MN).”
Peter Larkin, President/CEO, National Grocers Association
“We appreciate President Obama taking action and signing into law this important bill that creates a national standard for the labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients. With this new law, consumers will have access to more information and the confidence that the label they are reading contains the same information from coast to coast.
“NGA is proud to have been a part of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, a coalition that brought together over 1,100 entities that represent our nation’s food supply system, to advocate for a commonsense solution for the confusing and harmful patchwork of state labeling disclosure laws. We will continue to work on behalf of the independent supermarket industry throughout the rule making process at USDA to ensure implementation of this law is aligned with Congressional intent.”