Dive Brief:
- Lobbying for GMO labeling has soared over the past year. This was especially evident in the first quarter as lobbyists took to Congress while the Senate debated a voluntary labeling policy, which ultimately did not pass, and the deadline for Vermont's mandatory labeling law drew nearer.
- The Senate Office of Public Records noted a 31% increase in number of groups that filed lobbying disclosures with "GMO labeling" listed as an issue of focus, from 49 companies, trade groups, and advocacy organizations in Q4 2015 to 64 groups in Q1 2016. In the first quarter of 2015, 24 groups filed such lobbying reports.
- Whether Congress will come to an agreement for a federal GMO labeling policy by July 1, the date Vermont's law goes into effect, is still a point of contention.
Dive Insight:
Many members of Congress feel a compromise isn't likely by that date, including Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), a member of the Agriculture Committee. Senate Agriculture Committee chairman Pat Roberts (R-KA) and ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) continue to negotiate. Stabenow delivered her latest round of GMO labeling language to the chairman last month, and earlier this week, Roberts said he wanted any proposals from Stabenow vetted by agricultural producers in her state.
Others believe that pressure will continue to rise and that "reality and chaos in the marketplace... (are) going to drive people to the table to get a deal," Randy Russell, president and CEO of The Russell Group, a lobbying firm that represents food and agriculture clients, told Bloomberg BNA.
It's not certain that more lobbying efforts between now and July 1 will make much of a difference. At this point, it seems everyone is fairly clear on what the other side ultimately wants, but no one is clear on how to meet in the middle.
Instead of lobbying for the issues concerning their side, manufacturers may consider teaming up with agricultural groups and trade organizations. Grocery Manufacturers Association proposed its SmartLabel technology as one potential solution in the latest iteration of the voluntary labeling bill. But just because that bill didn't pass doesn't mean another solution from GMA or manufacturers themselves couldn't be the innovation that resolves differences on both sides.
With Vermont's deadline less than two months away, manufacturers are going to have to make an investment (or take a loss) somewhere. A handful of manufacturers have decided to pursue GMO labeling across their entire portfolios before the law takes effect, while others have decided to pull their products from Vermont altogether.