Final FDA Rules on Labeling Non-GMO Food Months, Years Away
WASHINGTON--Voluntary labeling rules for products not
containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been delayed, according to
a March 21 Associated Press report. Lester Crawford, deputy commissioner of the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), testified on March 21 before the House
agricultural appropriations subcommittee, saying that the government must be
able to make certain that a label claiming to be free of GMOs is accurate. Non-GMO
food must be tested by companies and checked by inspectors to assure the product
contains no GMOs, he said. While the FDA did release a notice regarding labeling
non-GMO food in January 2001, proposed and final rules could be months or years
away.
When FDA releases proposed rules, a public comment period will follow. Even
after the final rules are adopted, enforcement is typically not pursued for
several months or years as manufacturers are allowed to phase out existing
inventory and change their labels.
It is believed by many in the natural products industry that FDA will rule
that in order for a product to be labeled non-GMO, it must contain less than 1
percent bio-engineered foods. However, the natural products industry is anxious
to see that percentage even lower, according to Craig Winters of The Campaign to
Label Genetically Engineered Foods.