Dive Brief:
- Vermont'sAttorney General Bill Sorrell has formally adopted regulations to implement statewide legislation that mandates the labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients.
- The move comes after "months of public outreach and comments from producers, retailers and consumers, and after approval by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules," theAssociated Pressreports.
- According to Sorrell, food manufacturers and retailers should have plenty of time to adjust their packaging to be in accordance with the now formally adopted rule, which will go into effect July 1, 2016.
Dive Insight:
After passing the country's first statewide GMO labeling law in May 2014,Vermontbecame a trailblazer for a GMO labeling movement that hassurfacedin state and local governments across the country. The movement has seen varying responses from different groups and organizations over the years.
Most recently, the USDA hosted a为期两天的峰会in March to discuss the GMO debate, and at a House Committee on Agriculturehearing, also last month, six witnesses argued the futility of mandatory GMO labeling. Meanwhile, other states, such as Alaska and Idaho, have jumped in on thelabeling debateas well.
Legislatively, the GMO labeling debate doesn't appear to be favoring either side at the moment, but there's no question that certain consumer opinion is shifting, and somefarmersand food companies are following in turn.
