American Soybean Association works with Senate leaders to find GMO labeling compromise

Leaders at the American Soybean Association have collaborated with Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to create a GMO labeling compromise.

In addition, American Soybean Association CEO Steve Censky visited Washington, D.C., last week to meet with the chiefs of staff from Roberts' and Stabenow's offices. The two offices are currently taking proactive measures to reach a solution, which could stop an incoming crisis from happening in Vermont where a GMO labeling law will be implemented on July 1.

Five significant food manufacturers have proactively labeled their GMO products to avoid paying the heavy fines that could be incurred through the new law in Vermont, and other food manufacturers may have to follow suit.

Experts believe that the two offices will resolve the issue through a provision in Roberts’ Senate Bill 2609. This bill received bipartisan support, which may be the resolution that the food industry in Vermont needs.

Now, leaders from both parties need the bill to pass. For Democrats, the bill must offer mandatory disclosure of GMOs with 800-numbers or quick-response codes so that consumers can easily see which products have GMOs; for Republicans, the bill must state that products containing animals that were fed with GM nutrition are not on the labels.