GMW: First-Ever U.S. Labeling LEGISLATION for GM Food BECOMES LAW in Alaska

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GMW: First-Ever U.S. Labeling LEGISLATION for GM Food BECOMES

LAW in Alaska

" GM WATCH " <info

Mon, 6 Jun 2005 18:51:01 +0100

 

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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EXCERPT: A Rutgers University poll published in November 2004 confirmed

earlier findings that nine-out-of-ten Americans (89 percent in the most

recent poll) want to have genetically engineered foods labeled.

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First-Ever U.S. Labeling LEGISLATION for Genetically Engineered Food

BECOMES LAW in Alaska

 

Statement from Tracie Letterman, Fish Program Director for Center for

Food Safety, following Alaska governor Frank Murkowski signing into law

the nation's first labeling legislation for genetically engineered

food. Senate Bill 25 requires that genetically engineered fish be

" conspicuously labeled to identify the fish or fish product as a

genetically

modified fish or fish product, " whether packaged or unpackaged.

http://www.naturalnewswire.com/2005/06/firstever_us_la.html

 

" Alaska has become the first state to give its citizens what 90 percent

of Americans want - labels for genetically engineered foods. We

anticipate that this legislation will be a bellwether for other state

efforts

to label biotech foods. It's only a matter of time before all states

move to fill in the regulatory gap left by the Federal government's

failure to require mandatory labeling. "

 

BACKGROUND: Senate Bill 25 was approved unanimously by the Alaska

Senate in March and the House in early May, and was signed by Governor

Murkowski on May 19 (see Senate Journal record at:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_jrn_page.asp?session=24 & bill=SB25 & jrn=170\

8 & hse=S).

 

Numerous jurisdictions around the country have passed or are working on

legislation to regulate genetically engineered foods in the absence of

U.S. government oversight or restrictions. Often these bills are

intended to protect local farming from biotech contamination, or human

health

and the environment. A Rutgers University poll published in November

2004 confirmed earlier findings that nine-out-of-ten Americans (89

percent in the most recent poll) want to have genetically engineered

foods

labeled.

 

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing an application

for approval to commercialize genetically engineered salmon developed

to grow much more rapidly that wild salmon.

 

Center for Food Safety (CFS) reviewed the language of the bill and

worked to support its passage. CFS has worked around the country in

support

of labeling legislation for genetically engineered foods and to prevent

genetically engineered fish from invading our oceans and harming human

health.

 

The legislation identifies genetically modified fish as " a finfish or

shellfish whose genetic structure has been (A) altered at the molecular

level by means that are not possible under natural conditions or

processes, including recombinant DNA and RNA techniques, cell fusion,

gene

deletion or doubling, introduction of exogenous genetic material,

alteration of the position of a gene, or similar procedure; (B) the

progeny of

a finfish or shellfish described in (A) of this paragraph. " The term

" genetically modified fish product " is defined as any " …product prepared

from a genetically modified fish. "

 

CONTACT: Craig Culp, Center for Food Safety, (202) 547-9359, (301)

509-0925

 

 

 

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