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Vilsack sees hope for compromise GMO bill

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the failure of the Senate to advance a GMO labeling bill this week is not the end of the story, “I’ve been encouraged by the comments of a number of folks who are quoted as suggesting that the work is not yet done. Obviously, it’s not. I’ve suggested all along that there can’t be a winner and a loser in this process, that we have to figure out the elusive middle way, third way.”

Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts’ voluntary GMO bill fell 12 votes short of the 60 votes needed. Three Democrats voted in favor of it.

Vilsack says the final bill will have to involve compromise on both sides, “I’m hopeful that there’s now an understanding of the need for creative compromise to get something done before the Vermont law goes into effect. And, I’m going to remain hopeful that folks in the Senate will be able to do that.”

Vilsack says the final legislation needs to pre-empt state GMO labeling laws, such as Vermont’s which is set to go into effect in July, to prevent chaos in the marketplace.