'Corporate Influence Has Won':
House Passes Anti-GMO Labeling Bill
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Legislation dubbed the DARK Act had backing of powerful groups
who poured money into defeating state-level GMO-labeling efforts
A sign in support of GMO labeling seen in North Portland,
Oregon. (Photo: Tony Webster/flickr/cc)
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation
that would block states from requiring the labeling of genetically engineered
foods, or GMOs—a move that consumer rights groups decried as corporate power
defeating Americans' right to know what's in their food.
The bill, H.R. 1599—dubbed the “DARK Act” (Deny Americans the
Right to Know) by its critics—passed 275-150. (Click here to see the roll call...)
It was backed
by the food industry, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association and
Monsanto Company, which have poured
money into defeating GMO labeling initiatives.
Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, a
group that opposed the bill, explains: "The bill that passed includes
provisions that would preempt states from labeling GMOs or enforce already
passed GMO labeling provisions (like Vermont’s Act 120), and would prohibit
states from having any oversight of GMO crops, for example, a county-wide ban
on growing GMOs or GMO-free zones in certain organic seed-producing areas.
Instead, this bill would create a voluntary federal GMO labeling standard for
companies, weakening already deficient regulations."
It was co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), who said
following the vote that bill "provides needed clarity in food
labeling."
Among those disappointed in the passage of the legislation is
the Center for Food Safety.
"Passage of this bill is an attempt by Monsanto and its
agribusiness cronies to crush the democratic decision-making of tens of
millions of Americans. Corporate influence has won and the voice of the people
has been ignored," stated Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of Center
for Food Safety.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) was also opposed to the bill,
and cited widespread
public support for labeling GMOs.
"It’s outrageous that some House lawmakers voted to ignore
the wishes of nine out of 10 Americans," said Scott Faber, senior vice
president of government affairs for EWG.
The outcome of the vote was a "foregone conclusion,"
he continued, because "this House was bought and paid for by corporate
interests."
But Ronnie Cummins, international director of the Organic
Consumers Association, stressed that the fight is far from over—so expect
resistance.
"We are committed to stopping this outrageous,
anti-consumer, anti-democracy legislation from succeeding," Cummins said.
"We will do so by mobilizing a massive opposition movement that transcends
political party affiliations, and that unites consumers of all ages with
organic farmers and retailers whose livelihoods are threatened by this
legislation, and with the medical and scientific experts who are outspoken
about the potential health and environmental risks associated with GMO crops
and foods.
"It’s time to hold every member of Congress accountable.
Either they stand with Monsanto and Big Food in support of the DARK Act, or
they stand with the overwhelming majority of their constituents for truthful
labeling and consumer choice," Cummins stated.
Instead of H.R. 1599, hundreds of farm, public interest and
environmental organizations have urged
(pdf) passage of bipartisan legislation that would require labeling of GMOs.
For now, the battle moves to the Senate, where, as the Des
Moines Register reports,
no similar legislation exists. EWG's Faber says his group is
"confident the Senate will defeat the DARK Act."
Kimbrell expressed optimism as well, stating, "We remain
confident that the Senate will preserve the rights of Americans and stand up
for local democracy."
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"The master class
has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles.
The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject
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