A bill put forward by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) that would have created voluntary labeling standards for GMOs and preempt states’ rights to require such labeling, failed on Wednesday to get the votes it needed to move forward. Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee may rework the bill, referred to by opponents as the DARK (Deny Americans the Right to Know) Act.

New England Farmers Union worked to convince New England legislators on the committee to reject the bill. Farmers Union supports mandatory, transparent labeling, as 90 percent of consumers say they want them. As part of its balanced, member-crafted policy, Farmers Union also supports farmers’ right to use biotechnology.

Vermont’s GMO labeling law goes into effect July 1, and federal lawmakers are scrambling to get a national standard in place by then.

See this Agri-Pulse story for more details on compromise measures that are under consideration.

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