President Barack Obama signed the landmark GMO labeling compromise bill into law on Friday. American Soybean Association President Richard Wilkins, a soybean farmer from Greenwood, Del. applauded the President with the following statement:
“The American Soybean Association congratulates and thanks President Obama for today signing into law the bipartisan GMO compromise bill. This law will provide stability in the marketplace for both producers and consumers, while avoiding a messy patchwork of state laws. We are happy to put this fight behind us, and continue to provide safe, affordable food for the American people, just as we have for generations.”
The National Corn Growers Association called the new law an important agreement that protects America’s food supply from a harmful patchwork of state-level food labeling laws. The law will provide consumers with more information than ever before and ensure a transparent, national food labeling system. “We are grateful to President Obama for swiftly signing into law a bill that is crucial for American farmers and consumers,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling. “His signature brings consistency to the marketplace and prevents the negative ramifications of conflicting state and national food labeling standards.”
NCGA, along with partners across the value chain, has pushed for a solution to this issue for more than two years now as a member of the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food. “We are pleased to have been part of a coalition of more than 1,100 agricultural and food groups representing the entirety of our national food supply system, from farm to fork, in coming together to advocate for a bipartisan solution,” Bowling added. “We look forward to continuing our work with the coalition to ensure that, as the law enters the rule making process at USDA, implementation remains in line with Congressional intent.”