ASTA Urges Action on Senator Roberts’ Food Labeling Proposal
- On February 22, 2016
Alexandria, Va.—February 22, 2016—The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) applauds Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts for his leadership in introducing a commonsense food-labeling proposal to bring consistency and transparency to the marketplace.
“Time is running out for Congress to take action to prevent a patchwork of state food-labeling laws from being enacted,” said ASTA President & CEO Andrew LaVigne. “We applaud Chairman Roberts for putting forth a practical, national solution, and we urge the Senate to pass the proposal as soon as possible.”
Multiple studies have shown that the associated costs with Vermont’s GMO-labeling law and a subsequent patchwork of state laws will cost American families hundreds of dollars more in groceries each year – with low-income Americans being hit the hardest.
Roberts’ proposal would preempt state GMO food and seed labeling efforts and require USDA to set a standard for voluntary on-package disclosures.
“ASTA has long advocated for a uniform, national food-labeling solution based on sound science,” said LaVigne. “Consumers and the food and agriculture community alike deserve consistency and transparency in the marketplace.”
