Key GMO Labeling Vote Expected Wednesday

A procedural vote on a revised GMO labeling bill should come sometime Wednesday in the Senate. The debate started Monday on the revised bill by Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts that mirrors the proposal by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. Politico reports the bill would give the food industry two years to get at least 70 percent of its food products into the Grocery Manufacturers Association’s SmartLabel program before allowing the federal government to create mandatory labeling rules. Roberts said talks remained on trying capture the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster in the Senate, allowing the bill to move forward. Roberts said he has “sound science” on his side and the bill has massive support from agriculture groups.

However, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow does not support the measure, along with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. Merkley introduced a mandatory labeling bill in the Senate following the Agriculture Committee’s approval of a voluntary labeling bill.

Source: NAFB News service

Recommended Posts

Loading...