GMO Food Labeling Initiative

GMO Food Labeling Initiative

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

Initiative 522, tentatively set to be heard in the House Ag Committee on March 6, calls for the mandatory labeling of foods that include genetically modified ingredients. The majority of ag groups in the state oppose Initiative 522 due to what several say would be a regulatory nightmare of state by state labeling requirements, if put into effect. On February 14, during a public hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee, Holly Chisa of the NW Grocery Association had this to say in opposition to Initiative 522.

CHISA: Labeling creates a problem with having to separate Washington product that has to be labeled as GMO or not GMO from the other product in our warehouse facilities. This is a cost to retailers, and I dispute the comments that have been made that this is not an expensive proposition. Additionally, the Department of Health has released their fiscal note that it’s a $1.5 million proposition to implement this initiative every two years.

Chisa also refers to country GMO labeling requirements listed by those supporting Initiative 522.

CHISA: The countries that have been listed - Russia, Japan, France, Germany, they’re countries, they’re not states. There’s a reason you address this on a national standard. If you go state by state, you create a patchwork quilt. It has to be done at one level, not piece by piece.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.