Thursday the House passed the Senate version of the biotech labeling legislation and sent it on to the President for his signature. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says it needed to get approved even though it’s a mandatory piece of legislation. He says that’s because a federal rule is necessary to pre empt any state laws like Vermonts.

He says his group would have preferred the voluntary bill approved originally in the House but settled for the compromise in order to stop state laws from going into effect. VanderWal is hoping they can address the voluntary issue in the future.

VanderWal says one important component in the final biotech bill ensures that biotechnology is safe and consumers have nothing to fear.

Because the House passed the Senate measure without any amendments it goes straight to the President who’s expected to sign it.