GMO Labeling Passed out of Committee
April 20, 2012: Today, the House Agriculture Committee voted 9-1 in favor of H.722,
the bill that would require labeling of genetically engineered foods
sold in Vermont. The vote came after the Committee had heard nearly a
month’s worth of testimony, including at the April 12th public hearing
when hundreds of the bill’s supporters packed the house chamber and over
100 testified unanimously in favor of the bill.
We hope that you take the time to thank the members of the House Agriculture Committee for their hard work on the bill. (you can see a list and find their contact information here.)
Since the public hearing, the Committee has been working on the bill to make sure that it addressed the many reasons why people have a right to know what they are eating. Unfortunately, before passing the bill, the committee added a “trigger clause” that would not allow the bill to go into effect until 365 days after a similar bill is passed by California, as well as two states in the Northeast.
The bill will now move to the House Judiciary Committee, where it will be examined before it can reach the floor. It is not likely that the Judiciary Committee will have time to consider the bill, because the legislative session is slated to end in less than two weeks.
We want to thank everyone who has worked so hard in support of the bill, especially all of you who took the time to come to the public hearing in Montpelier. The VT Right to Know GMOs coalition will be meeting on Monday to discuss the next steps for this campaign, and we will let you know what you can do to help keep this important issue alive.
Thanks again for all the hard work and support.
We hope that you take the time to thank the members of the House Agriculture Committee for their hard work on the bill. (you can see a list and find their contact information here.)
Since the public hearing, the Committee has been working on the bill to make sure that it addressed the many reasons why people have a right to know what they are eating. Unfortunately, before passing the bill, the committee added a “trigger clause” that would not allow the bill to go into effect until 365 days after a similar bill is passed by California, as well as two states in the Northeast.
The bill will now move to the House Judiciary Committee, where it will be examined before it can reach the floor. It is not likely that the Judiciary Committee will have time to consider the bill, because the legislative session is slated to end in less than two weeks.
We want to thank everyone who has worked so hard in support of the bill, especially all of you who took the time to come to the public hearing in Montpelier. The VT Right to Know GMOs coalition will be meeting on Monday to discuss the next steps for this campaign, and we will let you know what you can do to help keep this important issue alive.
Thanks again for all the hard work and support.
|
Falko Schilling Consumer Protection Advocate, VPIRG falko@vpirg.org 802-223-5221 x.26 |
David L. Rogers, Policy Advisor, NOFA Vermont dave@nofavt.org 802-434-4122 (NOFA office) 802-244-6446 (Home office) |
Andrea Stander Executive Director, Rural Vermont andrea@ruralvermont.org 802-223-7222 |
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