NGA applauds Senate vote to advance food labeling measure

The National Grocers Association (NGA) applauded the U.S. Senate for invoking cloture on S. 764, a bill that includes reforms to biotechnology labeling by creating a national, uniform labeling standard for all foods made with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

A vote on cloture is a procedural vote to end debate on a piece of legislation and allows for the Senate to bring the legislative measure for a vote on final passage.

NGA President and CEO Peter J. Larkin said: “NGA applauds those Senators who voted in favor of advancing a national, uniform food labeling standard for foods containing genetically engineered ingredients.  Operating under a patchwork of state labeling laws will lead to unprecedented logistical problems for food distributors, which in turn will drive up costs for consumers and create onerous red tape for supermarket operators.

“NGA supports S. 764 and is grateful to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) for their leadership to advance this legislation on a bipartisan basis. On behalf of the independent grocers who are operating in each Congressional district nationwide, we urge the U.S. House to take up this bill before the summer district work period.”