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1 1 (July 23, 2015)

handle is hein.crs/govchyz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Resea rch Sevice Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods: The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 Updated July 23, 2015 As approved by the House Agriculture Committee on July 14, 2015, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 (H.R. 1599) would create a national voluntary program governing pre-market review and labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods and would preempt current and future state laws mandating the labeling of GE foods. The bill passed in the House on July 23 by a vote of 275 to 150. Four amendments were offered on the floor. None was agreed to. The legislation would amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish a new legal framework governing the use of labels claiming either the absence of or use of GE foods or food ingredients. The bill would also require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to define the term natural and to promulgate regulations governing its use on food product labels. Under the new legal framework, states would be prohibited from imposing labeling laws that differed from federal requirements. Federal policy does not require GE-derived foods to be so labeled as long as they are substantially equivalent to their conventional counterparts. Nonetheless, some consumer groups seek mandatory labeling of all GE foods. These groups argue that U.S. consumers should have an opportunity to see all relevant information on a label so that they can make food choices based on their own views about its perceived quality or safety. The food and biotechnology industries oppose compulsory labeling. They contend that consumers might interpret GE labels as warning labels implying that the foods are less safe or nutritious than conventional foods. The industry believes the preponderance of scientific evidence indicates GE foods pose no human health risks and are as nutritious as non-GE foods. State Labeling Laws In 2014, Vermont became the first state to pass a mandatory GE labeling law. The law will not be implemented until July 2016. Connecticut and Maine also passed mandatory GE labeling laws in 2013 and 2014, respectively, but they will not go into effect until five contiguous states also pass mandatory GE labeling laws. At least seven other state legislatures are also considering labeling laws. Opponents of labeling have feared that in the absence of a national labeling law, each state could pass its own specific labeling requirements for GE foods, requiring costly management changes in commodity supply chains to comply with different state laws. H.R. 1599 would preempt any state authority over GE labeling in favor of a voluntary National Genetically Engineered Food Certification Program. The bill would prohibit a state now or in the future from directly or indirectly establishing under any authority, or continue in effect, as to any covered products in interstate commerce, any requirement for the labeling of a covered product indicating the product has been produced from, containing, or consisting of a CRS INSIGHT Prepaed for Membei-s and cornnittees o4 Congress ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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