The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to convene at noon on July 23 to vote on HR 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.

 The bill, which was introduced this past March by Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), would pre-empt state labeling laws regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The bill will also create a national, science-based voluntary labeling standard for non-genetically engineered food certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Last week the House Agriculture Committee approved an amended version of HR 1599; the Senate has not yet introduced a companion bill.

IDFA is actively involved in the legislative process as it proceeds and will continue to keep members up to date.

For more information, contact Dave Carlin, IDFA senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy, at dcarlin@idfa.org or Ruth Saunders, IDFA vice president of policy and legislative affairs, at rsaunders@idfa.org.