The Roberts-Stabenow GMO labeling bill would, if passed, preempt state authority and nullify Vermont’s GMO labeling law – Vermont’s bill is the first legislation of its kind in the nation and is set to take on effect July 1. On the heels of this promising sign, votes to end debate on the bill and then move to final passage are scheduled for next week. In Wednesday’s motion to proceed to consideration of the bill, a procedural vote often considered a sign of where the votes lie for passage of a bill, the compromise GMO labeling bill received a positive vote of 68-29, laying the foundation for eventual passage. Despite serious concerns about confusing, inconsistent language and potential loopholes that would limit the bill’s scope being raised in a June 27 Food and Drug Administration’s Technical Assistance document prepared for Congress, a GMO labeling compromise bill negotiated by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) passed a key procedural hurdle late Wednesday night. The ongoing legislative battle around the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has reached a turning point.
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