The agricultural industry is closely watching the national biotech labeling rule making process to make sure USDA follows Congressional intent during implementation. Randy Russell, President of The Russell Group represents the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, which helped get the current legislation passed in Congress. He says USDA is now in the rule making phase and although the process was slowed with the turnover in administration, it shouldn’t totally reset the process.

He says the national biotech labeling law represents a good compromise struck by the industry that will still benefit consumers.

However, Russell says the law does not specify what USDA must do with the guidelines governing non-biotech labeling or marketing gimmicks for products labeled non-biotch that never were to begin with.

He says they’re also unclear how USDA plans to handle the current rule making process in APHIS on labels that can be used on meat that has been produced with biotech feed. He says that was to supposed to be excluded from the labeling.

The industry will be allowed to comment on the process as it moves through the interim and final rule stages.