Dive Brief:
- Sen. Pat Roberts' (R-KA) voluntary GMO labeling bill could stall in the Senate, seeing the same fate as a similar bill that didn't leave its committee last session.
- Roberts told Politico that he has been meeting regularly with Democrats to find middle ground and reach a bipartisan agreement before Vermont's mandatory GMO labeling law takes effect in July.
- The bill will face strong pushback from Bernie Sanders, a Vermont senator and presidential candidate, and other Democrats who are staunch supporters of GMO labeling, such as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Boxer, who has introduced mandatory GMO labeling bills in the Senate, told Politico she doesn't believe Roberts has the support he needs for the bill to pass.
Dive Insight:
Costs for manufacturers and consumers are a major concern for GMO labeling, and consumer groups have called out the industry for using cost-based scare tactics to pressure Congress to institute a voluntary labeling policy.
The Corn Refiners Association released a study this week that said Vermont's labeling law could cost consumers an additional $1,050 a year in grocery spending. Consumer groups have responded by citing Campbell's commitment to label GMO ingredients for its own products without raising prices for consumers.
These costs will be central to legislators' arguments over GMO labeling, a debate where both sides often refuse to budge. The House was able to pass its voluntary GMO labeling bill 275-150 last July, so compromise is possible. At this point, it's not just about whether the Senate will pass the bill, but whether it will pass the bill fast enough — not to mention needing House approval and the president's signature.