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proverbialwisdom

(4,959 posts)
13. Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, commended the Vermont House for labeling bill
Mon May 13, 2013, 03:49 PM
May 2013
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_27499.cfm

CU Hails Historic Vermont House Vote on Labeling GE Food
By Naomi Starkman
May 10, 2013


Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, commended the Vermont House of Representatives for today's historic vote passing H-112, requiring the labeling of all genetically engineered (GE) food sold in that state, by an overwhelming margin of 99 to 42. The bill now moves to the Vermont Senate, which will take it up when the legislature returns January 2014. If the Senate passes the bill, Vermont will be the first in the nation to mandate GE labeling.

"Vermont's historic vote today is a major victory for consumer demand for the labeling of genetically engineered food," said Michael Hansen, PhD, a biologist and Senior Scientist at Consumers Union. "We commend the members of the Vermont House who voted for this bill, despite an onslaught of industry lobbying against it."

The Vermont House is the first state legislative body to pass a bill to label GE food, although the state of Alaska passed legislation requiring labeling of GE fish. GE food is required to be labeled in 62 foreign countries, including all of the European Union, Japan, Korea, Australia, and India.

The Vermont bill will go into effect when two other states have passed similar legislation, or within two years from the date of signing. Labeling bills are also pending in Maine, Connecticut, and several other states. "All these states will be hard fought," said Hansen.

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Consumers Union has long supported labeling of GE food and stricter regulatory oversight of GE crops.


http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/2013/05/09/house-approves-gmo-labeling-bill/Y4Kde8VhN7PdBlUkGZJA8N/story.html

Vt. House approves GMO labeling bill
AP / May 9, 2013


MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont House has approved legislation calling for labeling of food products containing genetically modified organisms.

Thursday’s vote came after the House spent most of the day debating a measure that will not see final action this year because the Senate lacks time to take it up.

The 107-37 vote came after supporters raised concerns about human health and the ecosystem from the use of genetic engineering.

Opponents of the legislation raised a range of arguments, from fears that Vermont will be sued by the biotech or food industries to federal government findings that there is no difference between genetically modified and traditional food.

The bill would exempt food from animals, including meat and dairy products.


Links from: http://organicconsumers.org/
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