Provides for the labeling of food or food products that contain a genetically engineered material or that are produced with a genetically engineered material

2 Co-sponsors

• Velmanette Montgomery
• Bill Perkins

BILL NUMBER:S7405

Title of bill

An act to amend the general business law and the agri- culture and markets law, in relation to the labeling of genetically engineered foods

Purpose or general idea of bill

To require the labeling of genetically engineered foods and other consumable products made from genetically engineered materials.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: Sets forth the legislative intent.

Section 2: Defines genetically engineered foods and provides for exemptions from labeling under certain circumstances.

Sections 3 and 4: Makes conforming changes to the Agriculture and Markets Law.

Section 5: Provides the Severability clause.

Section 6: Sets forth the effective date.

Justification

In the past decade, genetic engineering has enabled the development of new foods and crops. Genetic engineering is a process which allows for the altering of the genetic material contained in an organism to change the characteristics the organism will display as it develops. The intro- duction of these new genes is no longer limited to genes from similar species, as the genes from animals or other plant species can be added to create new character traits within a particular organism. The genes are generally introduced into the cells of the organism with the use of viruses; antibiotic-resistant genes, and bacteria. The emergence of these new crops has initiated debate among countries, scientists, farm- ers, and environmentalists.

A variety of plants are being grown that, contain genetically modified organisms, including corn, canola, cotton, wheat, apples and strawber- ries. It has been estimated that 60-70% of packaged grocery products contain some genetically modified organism ingredients. Consumers should be provided the information necessary to make informed decisions when choosing food products for their families. This legislation requires that the information be provided through product labeling.

Prior legislative history

2012: A1367

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect twenty-four months after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the department of agriculture and markets shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary to implement this act, including, but not limited to, creating and main- taining a list, which shall be made available to the public at no cost, of raw agricultural commodities that are produced with genetic engineer- ing; provided, further, that the department of agriculture and markets is not authorized to create any exemptions beyond those provided for in paragraph (d) of subdivision two of section 391-t of the general busi- ness law as added by section two of this act and paragraph (d) of subdi- vision fifteen of section 201 of the agriculture and markets law as added by section four of this act; provided further, this act shall remain in effect until such time as a comprehensive federal system requiring mandatory labeling of foods and food products manufactured or produced using genetic engineering is implemented, provided however that nothing contained herein shall prevent the State from exercising any concurrent authority authorized by federal law.