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Mandatory GM food labeling becomes law in Connecticut
Story Date: 6/28/2013
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Source: MONSANTO, 6/27/13
BACKGROUND:
On June 26, 2013, Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy signed into law, “An Act Concerning Genetically
Engineered Food”. The law (PA 13-183) declares a food misbranded if it is genetically engineered and does not
bear the label, "Produced with Genetic Engineering."
Several exemptions and “triggers” were included in the legislation. For example, the Connecticut law will only
become effective and implemented when four (4) additional states, one of which borders Connecticut, pass
similar labeling legislation AND the population of the Northeast state(s) that have passed labeling laws exceeds
20 million, which given the states and the population count, is highly unlikely to go into effect this year.
The stated goal of some mandatory labeling proponents is to eliminate all biotech-improved crops from the
market, impacting our business and depriving our farmer customers of choice of beneficial farming practices.
While CT is the first U.S. state to pass a mandatory GM food labeling law, several conditions defer its
implementation, limiting its immediate impact. In fact, lawmakers in CT have already been reported that there are drafting mistakes in the legislation, which will have to be corrected next year, including reference to “natural” and inclusion of pet foods.
Monsanto stands with our farmer customers, the food industry, among others, in opposing mandatory
labeling bills, resolutions and initiatives at state and federal level through the Biotechnology Industry
Organization (BIO), the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and our grower customers.
The safety of our products is our first priority, and multiple health societies, hundreds of independent
scientific experts and dozens of governments around the world have determined that foods and
ingredients developed through biotechnology (GM) are safe.
The FDA has determined foods derived from bioengineering are just as safe as their conventional
counterparts. FDA guidance requires labeling of food products containing ingredients from GM seed if
there is a meaningful difference between that food and its conventional counterpart (i.e. composition,
nutrition or safety).
The American Medical Association (AMA) supports the FDA’s science-based approach and approved a
formal statement asserting that there is no scientific justification for special labeling of foods
containing GM ingredients. We agree with the AMA and support the FDA guidelines on labeling food
products containing GM ingredients.
FDA allows and Monsanto supports food companies’ choices to voluntarily label food products based
on their customers’ preferences *e.g., organic or non-Genetically Modified (GM)], provided the label is
truthful and not misleading. Food companies are in the best position to determine what type of
information meets the needs and desires of their customers.
We oppose the mandatory labeling of food and ingredients developed from GM seeds because it could
be interpreted as a warning or imply that these ingredients are harmful or somehow inferior to their
conventional or organic counterparts.
THIRD-PARTY LINKS / RESOURCES:
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Statement on Connecticut GE Food Labeling Bill
FDA’s Role in Regulating Safety of GE Foods
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm352067.htm
The American Medical Association stated in June 2012: “There is no scientific justification for special
labeling of bioengineered foods, as a class, and that voluntary labeling is without value unless it is
accompanied by focused consumer education.”
The American Association for the Advancement of Sciences stated in October 2012:
“The FDA does not require labeling of a food based on the specific genetic modification procedure used
in the development of its input crops. Legally mandating such a label can only serve to mislead and
falsely alarm consumers.”
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