Hoeven: Ag Committee Advances Plan to Address GMO Labeling

Press Release

Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the committee has advanced new legislation to address GMO labeling. The measure will avert a costly patchwork of different state labeling requirements for genetically modified food products, while providing consumers with more information about the food they buy at the grocery store. The key, Hoeven said, is to find a way to provide accurate information to the public in a format that works and that will also get sufficient votes on the senate floor to pass.

"The science tells us that biotech foods are safe," Hoeven said. "The cost issue to consumers is important, but we also need to understand that this is a tough time for our ag producers. We have to be out there helping those farmers and ranchers. The right to know is important, and this bill does provide that we have a national standard for a voluntary labeling standard that the USDA has to have in place within two years. Further, the USDA has to continue that work to make sure that info on GMOs are available to consumers and report back to Congress."

Source