Labeling for genetically engineered items-2.

WORKING DRAFT
2016
State of Wyoming
16LSO-0403
Introduced
1.3

Senate

JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.

SJ0004

Labeling for genetically engineered items-2.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Emerich, Driskill, Geis and Hicks

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to enact legislation providing 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
plants and animals provide
desirable traits from nature and
establish
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 (2
0
) 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
labeling
solution is needed that will protect consumers by eliminating confusion 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

WHEREAS, a national solution will inform consumers through federal standards
.

C
ompanies
may
choose to voluntarily label their products for the absence or presence of
genetically engineered food ingredients so that consumers clearly understand their choices in the marketplace
.

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
provides for food labeling
based on scientific standards regarding health, safety and nutrition.

Section 2.

That
Congress

provide
sufficient standards to address consumer interest in food production practices through the use of truthful and nonmisleading voluntary labeling.

Section
3
.

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
and

to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

1

SJ0004