bake - August 2016 - 12

management

GMO Labeling Update
The US Senate recently voted to end debate on S.764 and
move for ﬁnal passage on federal preemption to Vermont's
GMO labeling requirement. Bakers nationwide communicated
their strong support for the Roberts-Stabenow Agreement with
over 4,000 emails, calls and personal visits to nearly 90 Senate
offices, according to the American Bakers Association (ABA).
This show of support resulted in ABA declaring this a key vote
for the industry.
The bill would give food and beverage manufacturers options
in disclosing whether a product contains bioengineered ingredients/genetically modiﬁed organisms (GMO). The form of a
disclosure may be a "text, symbol, or electronic or digital link,"
according to the bill. Companies would have the option of
using quick-response (QR) codes, phone numbers or web sites
instead of on-pack labeling.
Having been passed by the Senate, the bill will be sent to the
House of Representatives, which passed its own GMO labeling
bill last year. The primary difference between the two bills is
that the House measure called for only voluntary labeling of
GMO foods whereas the Senate bill was based on mandatory

"The stakes could not be higher," Bailey says. "Vermont's

labeling. Most food industry organizations favored the House

mandatory on-package GMO labeling law, which took effect

approach but now urged the House members to support the

on July 1, threatens to disrupt the nation's food supply chain

Senate measure as the best bill possible to clear Congress

with costly and lasting impacts. The fact is that consumers and

before the July recess.

small businesses in the state are already facing fewer products
on the shelves and higher costs of compliance on small busi-

"Bakers nationwide would like to thank the 63 members of

nesses, and this will only increase unless Congress acts quickly

the Senate who voted in favor of this common-sense uniform

to pass this federal bill."

GMO labeling standard," said Robb MacKie, ABA president and
CEO. "We implore the House of Representatives to immediately

Bailey says the GMA's SmartLabel technology is one way

pass this strong bi-partisan bill before leaving town for August

consumers will be able to get access to information about

recess, and provide the baking industry with the certainty

bioengineered ingredients. The SmartLabel technology allows

needed to continue distributing their wholesome products."

consumers to get additional details about products by scanning a bar code or conducting an on-line search.

Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive officer of the
Grocery Manufacturers Association, called the Senate vote "a

"(SmartLabel) enables them to get much more information

milestone moment" in the efforts to provide consumers clear

than ever before - and more than could ever ﬁt on a package

and consistent information about food and beverage prod-

label," she says. "More than 1,150 products already are using

ucts. She also said the vote should help prevent "a patchwork

SmartLabel and are listed on the SmartLabel.org web site.

of costly and confusing state labeling laws that would hurt

We project that more than 34,000 products will be using

consumers, farmers and businesses."

SmartLabel by the end of 2017."

12 < AUG 2016 | bakemag.com

http://www.SmartLabel.org http://www.bakemag.com

bake - August 2016

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