Dive Brief:
- A Thurston County, WA, judge has found the Grocery Manufacturers Association guilty of breaking campaign disclosure law in Washington while attempting to defeat a GMO labeling initiative in the state in 2013. The judge did not hand down penalties as of yet, though Washington's attorney general has asked for up to $42 million.
- GMA did not register as a political action committee and did not disclose the food and beverage companies that contributed $11 million to the association's campaign, according to the verdict.
- In her written opinion, the judge said, "The undisputed evidence … shows that the GMA's intent was to create a plan to provide anonymity and eliminate state filing requirements for contributing members," which would also shield the companies from public backlash.
Dive Insight:
Politico reports the GMA is planning a defense to show officials were unaware they were breaking Washington law.
Despite this ruling being a potential financial setback for the GMA, it likely won't have much of an impact on the national GMO labeling legislation debate. Both sides have bills introduced in the Senate, one of which (voluntary labeling) has already been passed by the agriculture committee. Many Democrats in the Senate, including those that voted to pass the voluntary labeling bill through committee, are not convinced this bill as it stands is the way to go. This strike against GMA in Washington state isn't likely to hold much sway over senators.
Washington's attorney general also charged the other side of the labeling initiative with the same campaign disclosure allegations. Anti-GMO group Food Democracy Action was months late disclosing the sources of $200,000 spent to support GMO labeling Initiative 522. If both sides are found guilty of the same questionable disclosure practices, it would be difficult to argue that the GMA's verdict is going to hinder its side of the GMO labeling debate.