By Steven Hedlund, SeaFood Business News
SAN DIEGO (April 17) - The National Fisheries Institute has taken a position on legislation that would boost regulation of genetically modified organisms by the Food and Drug Administration, including subjecting GMOs to the FDA's food-additive petition process and labeling requirements.
NFI's Government Relations Committee, which met during the Spring Conference at the Rancho Bernardo Inn last week, adopted the following policy:
"NFI supports the present Food and Drug Administration regulations, including its labeling
requirements, that ensure the genetically modified organisms are safe. Further, genetically modified organisms have proven benefits such as increased crop yield and decreased use of herbicides and pesticides."
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich is sponsoring a bill, HR 3377, that would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Federal Meat Inspection Act and Poultry Products Inspection Act to require food that contains genetically modified material or is produced using genetically modified material to be labeled accordingly.
A similar bill in the Senate, S 2080, is being sponsored by California Sen. Barbara Boxer.
Kucinich is also sponsoring another bill, HR 3883, that would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of genetically modified foods. The Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act would ensure that the process of producing foods using GMOs are adequately studied, because GMOs present new food-safety issues. Adding new genes into food should be thought of as introducing an additive, according to the bill.
A congressional source says both HR 3377 and HR 3883 are currently pending in front of the Commerce Committee. HR 3377 has received 50 cosponsors, while HR 3883 has acquired six.
"Legislation in the food area tends to take several years to pass," said the source.
(posted without permission)
