Stillman, Osten Joined Senate Vote for GMO Labeling

State Senators Andrea L. Stillman and Cathy Osten, democrats who represent Montville, voted with the Senate majority to approve legislation that would require labels identifying genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food sold in Connecticut. GMOs are plants or animals that have been artificially engineered to contain genetic information from other organisms.

“Many people have expressed to me their concerns about the food chain and what we as legislators are doing to protect their health,” Sen. Osten said in a press release. “All this bill does is require labeling so consumers can make an appropriate choice.”

The cultivation of genetically engineered crops has become widespread in the United States since their introduction to the market in the 1990s. For example, plants are now engineered to be resistant to weed killers and animals are bred to resist disease or develop other traits. Most Americans consume some type of food product containing GMO ingredients every day, according to a press release issued by the Office of State Senator  Andrea Stillman. 

“The concern I have about GMOs begins with the absence of any FDA testing or approval, and continues with the need for more and more chemicals in food production due to the resistance engineered and built into these new foods and plants,” Sen. Stillman said. “There can be no good to come from an increased reliance upon pesticides and herbicides—these labels will at the very least help us realize the extent to which GMOs dominate our food supply."

Senate Bill 802 would require labels on food intended for human consumption that is entirely or partially genetically-engineered. The label would read “Produced with Genetic Engineering,” and appear in the same size and font as the ingredients on the product’s nutrition facts panel. Unpackaged raw agricultural commodities would be labeled on their retail shelf or bin.

Stillman said there are "common sense exemptions built into this legislation, including food prepared in restaurants for immediate human consumption and farm products sold at a farmer’s market, roadside stand or pick-your-own farm and certain processed foods, in which there is only a trace—less than one percent—of genetically-modified components, would also be exempt.”

Stillman said the bill imposes similar requirements on seed or seed stock intended to produce food for human consumption; GMO seed would be required to bear a label on its holding container.

If enacted, this legislation would bring Connecticut in line with 62 sovereign nations worldwide, including the entire membership of the European Union, which have already adopted comparable measures.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. If passed and signed into law by the governor, the legislation would take effect either on July 1, 2016, or as soon as July 1, 2015 if any three of the following states also adopt a GMO labeling law: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania or New Jersey.