The U.S. House of Representatives voted last Thursday to pass H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, by a vote of 275-150. The bill, introduced in March by Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), would pre-empt state labeling laws regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It would also create a national, science-based voluntary labeling standard for non-genetically engineered food certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The next step in the Senate is uncertain. The Senate Agriculture Committee “will likely be discussing biotechnology issues” in the near future, Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) told Politico last week. Also, IDFA has learned that Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) is drafting a bill, but it won't be introduced before the August congressional recess. 

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.