A bill that would make GMO labeling voluntary passed the U.S. House.
The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act passed largely on a party line vote.
The SAFE act would establish a national, voluntary framework for the labeling of foods either containing or not containing genetically engineered ingredients.
The American Soybean Association says the legislation would require developers of genetically engineered plants to obtain FDA safety clearance on all new plant varieties before those foods are introduced into commerce; uphold FDA’s authority to specify special labeling if it finds a health or safety risk is posed by such a variety; create a legal framework governing the use of label claims regarding either the absence or presence of GMOs in a food product and require the FDA to define the term ‘natural’ on food labels.
The Senate is working on its own version of the bill.
