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‘Urgent need’ for GMO labeling compromise

The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food (CFSAF) says it is “imperative” that Senate Agriculture Committee leaders reach agreement this week on a GMO labeling bill.

The coalition, which is made up of agricultural groups, food companies and other ag- and food-related stakeholders, is urging chairman Pat Roberts and ranking member Debbie Stabenow to reach a bipartisan compromise and bring it to the Senate floor. The group says it’s confident that a Roberts-Stabenow compromise can get 60 votes in the Senate and can be passed by the House before Vermont’s GMO labeling law goes into effect July 1st. But for that to happen, the coalition says, the compromise must be reached this week.

Among the groups pressing for congressional action is the National Milk Producers Federation. Members of that organization, including dairy farmers and executives of dairy cooperatives, are lobbying on Capitol Hill this week. They say any GMO labeling bill must clearly exempt animal products from having to be labeled as GMO.