June 13, 2016 – ARLINGTON, VA – Food Marketing Institute (FMI) issued the following statement from FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin on tonight’s agreement on a national standard for GMO labeling. Sarasin said:
"FMI strongly supports the bipartisan agreement between Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-CA) on biotechnology labeling and hopes that all senators will vote in favor of the compromise.
"FMI strongly supports the bipartisan Roberts-Stabenow agreement on biotechnology labeling and hopes that all senators will vote in favor of the compromise. A national standard for GMO labeling is essential if we are to avoid the economic costs incurred by a patchwork of differing state laws. By preventing this patchwork, the Roberts-Stabenow agreement will avoid greater consumer confusion, allow efficiency, and enable the industry to proceed in a more orderly and reasonable fashion to provide consumers the information they want.
"We and the 800 other Coalition for Safe Affordable Food member organizations nationwide stand ready to do all we can to work for rapid passage of the agreement."