thanks, again, to
Alexandra for this good news
Wed, June 5, 2013
Published on Tuesday,
June 4, 2013 by Common
Dreams
Food safety advocates hope Connecticut’s move sparks nationwide
momentum for labeling of genetically modified foods
- Andrea Germanos, staff
writer
In a landmark act,
Connecticut has become the first state to require the labeling of genetically
modified (gmo) foods.
(Photo: MillionsAgainstMonsanto/cc/flickr)The gmo labeling bill overwhelminglypassed in the House in a 134 – 3 vote on Monday.
As the Hartford
Courant reports, the bill entails a sort of trigger in order for it
to take effect:
For the legislation to
take effect four states — including those bordering Connecticut — must pass a
similar bill. In addition, any combination of northeastern states (Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania or New
Jersey), with an aggregate population of at least 20 million people, must
approve labeling legislation.
Immediately after the
vote, cheers could be heard outside the Hall of the House from advocates who
had been pushing the labeling requirement.
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) said the
trigger “unnecessarily puts on hold what consumers and lawmakers have already
validated as important legislation,” but still welcomed the passage of the
legislation as a victory in the food movement, and hoped Connecticut’s action
would prove a catalyst for other states to enact similar measures.
Mark Kastel, co-director
of the Cornucopia
Institute, told the New York Times that
the trigger may not be entirely negative.
“The hurdles in the
Connecticut bill, if surmounted, would mean a critical mass in the marketplace
that would emulate the impacts that would have materialized if California had
passed its ballot initiative,” said Kastel.
Dave Murphy, founder and
executive director of Food Democracy Now!, cheered the bill’s passage as a
victory of people power over corporate agriculture, saying, “The grassroots
have won in Connecticut for a key victory over Monsanto and the biotech lobby.”
“It was inspiring to
watch Connecticut legislators supporting GMO labeling stand strong in the face
of the biotech industry’s effort to kill the bill,” said Murpy.
“Numerous other states
in the Northeast and around the country are actively considering pending GE
food labeling bills. Connecticut’s leadership provides momentum and an
incentive for these other states to move forward,” Rebecca Spector, who works
on state GMO labeling legislative efforts at CFS, said in a statement. “Other
states should now pass GE labeling laws, providing millions of U.S. consumers
with the basic right to know how their food is produced.”
The legislation now
heads to Gov. Malloy, who is expected to sign it.
_________________________
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1 comment:
Can not say it LOUD enough! Screw labeling and BAN Monsanto PERIOD! It is the food chain folks! DO NOT SCREW WITH THAT PRECIOUS CHAIN!
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