Senate agriculture leaders still hope to pass a Biotech labeling bill this year after the House passed voluntary labeling in July. So far, Democrats on the committee are not following suit. Top Senate Ag Democrat Debbie Stabenow displayed the dilemma Senate Democrats are having in supporting a purely voluntary labeling of genetically-modified foods at yesterday’s hearing on GMO regulations.

Stabenow commits to passing a bill by the end of this year that deals with a 50-state patchwork of rules has a national system of disclosure for consumers and does not stigmatize biotechnology.
Senate Ag Chair Pat Roberts of Kansas says the committee will address the labeling bill as soon as possible, but their decision will be based on science.

He added that food companies can already label products under current law if that is what is demanded by consumers.

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said earlier in the week he feels the environmental lobby is stopping the House Voluntary GMO Labeling bill. However, and FDA official told Senate Ag Committee the FDA is confident after 20-years of review, genetically-modified foods in the U.S. are as safe as non-GMO foods and the courts have backed FDA’s legal position that GMO traits by themselves do not require labeling.