North Dakota Members of CFSAF Tell Congress of Urgent Need For Uniform, National Food Labeling Standard
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Representatives of North Dakota's agriculture and food sectors came to Capitol Hill last week to urge passage by Congress of a uniform, national labeling standard for foods made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
With Vermont set to implement its own labeling standard next July and other states passing or considering their own labeling mandates, participants in the fly-in expressed the urgency to get a federal bill passed this fall in order to stave off the negative effects of a patchwork of differing state labeling laws.
A uniform, national food labeling standard will ensure that consumers in all 50 states have access to the same labeling information, bringing consistency and transparency to the marketplace. Additionally, a GMO-free certification program will provide consumers who choose to purchase non-GMO items a reliable means of doing so.
The fly-in, organized by the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, took place last Wednesday and featured men and women from 22 states who represent the entirety of the nation's food supply chain: farming groups, co-ops, seed producers and food companies. In total, the group had more than 140 meetings on Capitol Hill yesterday.
Participants in the fly-in expressed the urgent need for action by the Senate soon on the critical issue.
North Dakota farmers rely on GMOs to help them grow more crops on less land while using fewer pesticides, less irrigation and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014, 96 percent of the corn, 96 percent of the soybeans and 95 percent of the sugarbeets grown in North Dakota were genetically modified.
"North Dakota's soybean industry supports nearly two billion dollars of our state's economy," said Nancy Johnson, executive director of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association. "The vast majority of our soybeans are grown with genetically modified seeds, which allow us to use less water and fewer pesticides. We need the Senate to act now to set a national standard for labeling on the crops we grow, so that shoppers all across the country see the same labels with the same information, regardless of what state they reside in. We thank Senator Hoeven for his leadership on the hard work of developing legislation that will meet our needs while helping meet the needs of consumers."
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act in July by a significant 275-150 bipartisan vote, with 45 Democrats voting yes. That legislation would ensure that consumers have access to the same science-based information regardless of which state they shop in instead of different state mandates. It would also create a national GMO-free certification program that would provide consumers who prefer GMO-free foods a consistent means of identifying those products.
The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food is committed to passing a reasonable, common sense labeling standard this fall and will continue to advocate for food labeling policies that keep prices down and provide reliable and consistent science-based information.
SOURCE Coalition for Safe Affordable Food
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