The Vermont Senate on Wednesday approved yesterday a bill to require the labeling of genetically modified foods. The measure will go back to the House, which passed the bill 99-42 last May, for consideration as early as next week. The legislation, which would take effect July 1, 2016, is expected to clear the House and go to the governor’s desk for final signature.
State efforts to require companies to label whether their products contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) would be pre-empted under a House bill recently introduced by Michael Pompeo (R-KS).
If passed, Vermont would be the first state requiring the labeling of GMOs. It is likely that once the bill becomes law a lawsuit would follow. This action in Vermont could spur other states to push similar legislation, such as New York, which could, in turn, trigger laws in Connecticut and Maine.
Meanwhile, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio this week touted a new petition asking Congress to reject Rep. Mike Pompeo’s recent GMO labeling bill during a segment on MSNBC, noting that in just a day the measure had more than 70,000 signatures, and now has more 100,000 signature. “We’re not asking to get rid of GMOs, we just want them labeled,” Colicchio said.
