Jun 30, 2016

June 30, 2016 – ARLINGTON, VA – Food Marketing Institute (FMI) issued the following statement from FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin in support of the U.S. Senate’s strong vote on the procedural action last night of substituting the text of S.764 with the language of the bipartisan agreement between Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) on biotechnology labeling and then filing cloture, setting up two votes next week. Sarasin said:

“FMI commends the Senate’s practical action—before the July 1 implementation deadline of Vermont’s GMO labeling law—to file cloture on the bipartisan Roberts-Stabenow agreement, which enables the federal legislation on genetically modified food labeling to be considered next week when the Senate returns from the July 4th holiday recess. We applaud those 68 Senators voting in favor of moving this time-sensitive matter a step closer to final passage.

The development of one national GMO labeling standard will avoid the consumer confusion that would erupt if shoppers were forced to sort through a patchwork of differing state laws, conflicting definitions and divergent labeling criteria.  The Roberts-Stabenow agreement will enable the food industry to proceed in an efficient, economical and orderly fashion to provide consumers with the easily accessible information they want. We and our partners in the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food praise this important action, are encouraged by this solid bipartisan vote and strongly urge the Senate’s expeditious passage of the bill next week.”