The US House of Representatives passed the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015” by a vote of 275-150 Thursday. The bill preempts state-level efforts to create mandatory GMO labeling laws by granting FDA authority to establish a national standard label for food and beverage products containing genetically modified ingredients.
The legislation requires manufacturers to receive FDA certification that their products are deemed safe to enter the market and ensures consistency between non-GMO certification processes established by other labeling programs. The bill also sets a federal standard for the definition of “natural” food. The act was introduced in March by Congressmen Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and has attracted 106 cosponsors. Vermont is currently the only state with a law requiring labels for food containing GMO ingredients. That law is scheduled to take effect in July 2016, though it is being challenged by the food industry.