Update on Legal Challenge to GE Labeling Scheme at USDA
Last week, Center for Food Safety (CFS) took an important step in its lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's Department of Agriculture's (USDA) rules on labeling genetically engineered (GE) or GMO foods, which USDA now calls "bioengineered foods." CFS has provided detailed legal arguments and has asked a federal court to strike down the rules.
NOC and two NOC Members & Network Affiliates, PCC Community Markets and Natural Grocers, are plaintiffs in the litigation.
The 2018 rules include provisions which will leave the majority of GMO-derived foods unlabeled; discriminate against tens of millions of Americans by permitting the use of QR codes; prohibit the use of the widely-known terms "GMO" and "GE"; and prohibit retailers from providing more information to consumers. Additionally, the 2016 federal law invalidates state laws pertaining to labeling GE foods and seeds.
Aimee Simpson, Director of Advocacy & Product Sustainability at PCC Markets
"Now more than ever, families want to know how their food was produced and what system of agriculture they are supporting with every purchase. PCC believes they deserve that information," said Aimee Simpson, Director of Advocacy & Product Sustainability at PCC Natural Markets. "Retailers should have the right to communicate with customers in a truthful way, but under the final GMO labeling rules, we have been improperly silenced, leaving customers in the dark about GE foods."
"Widespread cultivation of crops genetically engineered to resist herbicides has resulted in increased use of these toxic chemicals on our nation's farm fields, which, in turn, threatens organic farming through drift," said Abby Youngblood, Executive Director at the National Organic Coalition. "This is one of many reasons consumers may wish to avoid GE foods, but unfortunately, they do not have this choice because the GE labeling rules do not provide consumers with meaningful, accessible, and transparent information about which foods are derived from GE crops."