Labeling for genetically engineered items.

WORKING DRAFT
2016
State of Wyoming
16LSO-0053
Introduced
1.2

House

JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.

HJ0001

Labeling for genetically engineered items.

Sponsored by:
Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to enact legislation reaffirming the United States Food and Drug Administration as the primary authority in uniform food labeling related to genetic engineering.

WHEREAS,
for the purposes of this resolution the term "genetically engineered"
is intended to include
the terms "biogenetic organism" and "genetically modified organism"; and

WHEREAS, foods produced with
genetically engineered
ingredients are as safe to eat and grow as foods produced without
genetically engineered
ingredients as found by many of the most influential regulatory agencies
and organizations in the world that study the safety of food products, including the
United States
Food and Drug
Administration, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, Health Canada, the
United States
Department of Agriculture, the National Academy of Sciences, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Food Safety Authority; and

WHEREAS,
genetically engineered
technology
provides

desirable
traits from nature and establishes
the potential for nutritional, health, agronomic and environmental benefits; and

WHEREAS, genetic modification of crops has existed since man began cultivating crops and
genetically engineered
technology has been safely used to produce food products for the past twenty-five (25) years; and

WHEREAS, approximately seventy percent (70%) to eighty percent (80%) of the foods consumed in the United States, both at home and away from home, contain
genetically engineered
ingredients or are genetically engineered as a whole product; and

WHEREAS, a patchwork of local and state mandatory labeling laws and regulations will force costly changes to manufacturing, labeling, warehousing, inventory and distribution channels. Manufacturers and retailers will have to make immediate and consequential changes to their businesses to comply with new labeling requirements. Testing to determine if products are exempt, relabeling or reformulating products with specifically handled, higher-priced ingredients and
maintaining
separate production runs, state
specific tracking units
, segregated warehousing, trucking and other logistical complexities
will
result in higher food prices; and

WHEREAS, a national solution is needed that will protect consume
rs by eliminating confusion,
advancing food safety and
providing
for the free trade of commerce among the states; and

WHEREAS, a national solution will eliminate the confusion and uncertainty of a fifty (50) state patchwork of
genetically engineered
safety and labeling laws and affirm the Food and Drug Administration
as the nation's authority
for the use and labeling of genetically modified
foods and
food ingredients; and

WHEREAS, a national solution will require the
Food and Drug Administration
to conduct a safety review of all new
genetically engineered
ingredients
before they are introduced into commerce. The
Food and Drug Administration
will be required to mandate the labeling of
genetically engineered
food ingredients if the agency determines there is a health, safety or nutrition issue with the
genetically engineered

ingredient
; and

WHEREAS, a national solution will inform consumers through federal standards established by the
Food and Drug Administration
for companies that
choose
to voluntarily label their product
s
for the absence or presence of
genetically engineered
food ingredients so that consumers clearly understand their choices in the marketplace; and

WHEREAS, a national solution will provide consistency in that the
Food and Drug Administration
will define the term "natural" for its use on food and beverage products so that food and beverage companies and consumers have a consistent
legal framework that will guide food labels and inform consumer choice.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That Congress of the United States
enact
bipartisan legislation that reaffirms the
Food and Drug Administration
as the primary authority in uniform food labeling related to genetic engineering, based on scientific standards regarding health, safety and nutrition.

Section 2.

That existing
Food and Drug Administration
labeling rules and guidance, as well as the
United States
Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program, provide sufficient standards to address consumer interest in food production practices through the use of truthful and nonmisleading voluntary labeling.

Section 3.

That the Commissioner of the
Food and Drug Administration
adopt policies, regulations and rules
setting standards to address consumer interest in food production practices through voluntary labeling.

Section 4
.

That the
Wyoming
Secretary of State transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of
the United States Congress,
to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation
and to the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration
.

(END)

1
HJ0001