A rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected soon regarding the disclosure of ingredients derived from bioengineering, and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is prepared to make sure the new labeling law approved by Congress is properly implemented.
“It’s that time when the rubber meets the road. We’re expecting a rule out of USDA. They’ve been directed by Congress to do that. That could be coming any time now. So we’re gearing up for that, preparing for that,” said AFBF Director of Congressional Relations Andrew Walmsley in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “We know some of our opponents in this arena will try to make some noise over it.”
On July 29, 2016 the president signed S 764, the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, into law. While not perfect, S 764 was a compromise that AFBF endorsed. The law creates a uniform standard for the disclosure of ingredients derived from bioengineering and allows food companies to provide that information through an on-package statement, symbol or electronic disclosure.
It also created a strong federal preemption provision to protect interstate commerce and prevent state-by-state labeling laws and was effective on the date of enactment. USDA has two years to develop the disclosure standards.
“Our message continues to be that we want to be transparent. We want to get information to consumers. We just don’t want to do it in way that demeans a perfectly safe and valuable agricultural tool,” Walmsley said.
Walmsley said he believes Congress is happy to get the labeling issue behind it. He said food labeling became an emotional issue.
“Farmers win because we’ve got technology and innovation protected. Food companies win because they’ve got some certainty in the marketplace,” he said. “And hopefully, in the end, consumers are the real winners because they’re getting more information than before without a necessary increase in their food costs,” he said.