They are the first state to require GMO labels
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
As people are becoming more curious about GMOs and what it means as far as their food intake, Vermont is taking big steps in giving the public the information they want.
Attorney General Bill Sorrell officially adopted regulations to implement a state law that would require food produced with genetically modified ingredients to be properly labelled.
In 2014, Vermont became the first state to require products made with GMOs to clearly state so on their packaging. The legislation makes it illegal for products that use GMOs to be labelled as “natural” or “all natural”.
The law will officially come into effect on Friday, July 1st, 2016 – giving plenty of time for manufacturers and retailers to prepare accordingly.
Those who support the legislation say consumers should have access to any information they want when it comes to their food purchases. People who are arguing against the bill say the residents of Vermont will feel the costs of the bill and that it could create other issues throughout the country.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association has filed a lawsuit, saying the requirement is unconstitutional.
Connecticut and Maine also have GMO labelling laws, however they wouldn’t come into effect until other states around them passed similar laws.
A February 2014 report done by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service showed American farmers planted approximately 169 million acres of genetically modified corn in 2013.
Join the discussion and tell us your thoughts about Vermont going forward with their GMO labelling legislation. As a farmer are you concerned that your operating costs could increase?
Products made with GMOs will have to say so on their labels