Agriculture Committee Throws Consumers and Farmers Under the Bus In Passage of DARK Act

“With this vote, committee members are clearly saying they are against states’ rights, against small farmers looking to protect their livelihoods, and against consumers who want to exercise their freedom to choose what they eat. This is unacceptable,” said Colin O’Neil, director of government affairs at CFS. “At a time when Americans – farmers and consumers alike – are seeking greater diversity and individual control in their food choices, this bill smashes those rights. Should the bill pass on the House floor, Americans across the country will be looking to the Senate to stand up for farmers and consumers.”

In the committee markup this morning, Representatives Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), vocally opposed the bill and called for the establishment of a national mandatory labeling standard. Passage in committee today sets up a likely showdown on the House floor as soon as next week.

CFS has long supported the ability of states and counties to regulate GE crops in order to protect traditional farmers from GE contamination, as well as communities from exposure to associated pesticides. Many local government ordinances restricting GE crops have been in place for over a decade, in states such as California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. Just this past month, a court upheld a Jackson County, Oregon law establishing a GE-free zone. This and numerous other state and county ordinances would be voided by H.R. 1599. Finally, the bill would further weaken federal regulation of GE crops at USDA and FDA, and redefine GE crops altogether to exclude new, potentially risky methods of genetic engineering, all the while forbidding state and local regulation to fill the oversight gaps left, as described above.

http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/3985/agriculture-committee-throws-consumers-and-farmers-under-the-bus-in-passage-of-dark-act