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NMPF, Dairy Co-ops Urge Congressional Support for Voluntary GMO Labeling Bill

May 11, 2015

NMPF joined hundreds of organizations across the food and agriculture industry on a letter sent to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, asking them to support the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The 373 organizations – including 17 dairy coops – urged House members to back legislation that would ensure Americans continue to have access to consistent science-based standards for food labeling.

The measure, designated H.R. 1599, will set clear standards for companies that voluntarily wish to label their products, either as containing or not containing GMOs.  The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act would counter efforts, at both the federal and state levels, to require food companies to display GMO content on their product labels. By putting a stop to the patchwork of state-based labeling requirements, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will protect consumers from unpredictable price variations and protect farmers and food manufacturers from having to contend with inconsistent and costly regulations and standards.

NMPF has been working through the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food to generate support for the legislation, introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC).  H.R. 1599 currently has 37 cosponsors. The measure was the subject of a congressional hearing in March, and may be advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce committee later this spring.