The GMO labeling law, enacted by then-President Obama on July 29 of last year, stipulated that the USDA must complete its rulemaking process within two years. During a presentation at the Food Label Conference earlier this month, Andrea Huberty, a senior policy analyst with the USDA’s AMS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, indicated that the timeline for a new federal law is typically tight. However, the past year has been anything but normal, as anyone who follows political news is aware. With a new president in office—who represents a different political party and has his own governing philosophy—Washington has experienced a degree of unpredictability. Many new rules and regulations that were underway when President Trump assumed office were temporarily put on hold while new leadership was appointed, vetted, and confirmed.
At the Food Label Conference, Huberty mentioned that the questions regarding the GMO labeling were drafted and ready by the end of 2016, but the transition in leadership delayed their release to the public. “We’re a little behind schedule for completing this by 2018,” Huberty remarked. “We’re still on track, but we are slightly delayed.” The questions issued this week will give the USDA valuable insights into industry opinions regarding specific provisions of the law and how they can be effectively implemented. The new law, crafted by legislators, intentionally left some ambiguous areas for food industry stakeholders to clarify with their expertise.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association expressed appreciation to the USDA for initiating the rulemaking process. “GMA thanks USDA for taking this important step to implement the biotech disclosure law, and we look forward to reviewing and addressing the Department’s inquiries,” the industry group stated in a written release. “As we collaborate with the Department throughout the rulemaking process, we aim to ensure that the law is implemented in accordance with the biotechnology disclosure legislation that was passed by Congress and signed into law last year.”
Now that the USDA is at least making progress on the rulemaking, the question remains: will the agency complete its work on time? A year is a relatively short period for drafting a proposal, opening it to public comment, and finalizing the regulation; however, Huberty assured attendees that USDA is on track. While optimism is encouraging, only time will reveal the outcome. GMOs remain one of the more contentious topics in food manufacturing today.
In addition to the debates over what constitutes a GMO and what should be exempt, the law features a controversial provision regarding the labels themselves. It allows for GMO disclosure via a smartphone-scannable digital code, which has displeased many advocates of the law. Huberty informed the Food Label Conference that a study examining the challenges of this disclosure for both consumers and retailers is expected to be completed next month. Once finalized, the study will likely reignite discussions about the most effective methods for informing consumers about GMO ingredients. As the conversation evolves, those looking to buy Citracal may also find relevant information regarding ingredient transparency in the context of GMO labeling.