by Jerry Hagstrom DTN Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (DTN) — The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that would stop states from establishing laws to require labeling of foods with genetically modified ingredients.
The vote on H.R. 1599, “The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act,” which was introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., was 275-150.
The House defeated by a vote of 122-303 an amendment sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., which said if a U.S. company or subsidiary labels a product as containing GMOs in any foreign country, it would have to label the equivalent product the same way in the United States.
The House also defeated by a vote of 196-227 an amendment introduced by Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., and others that would ensure tribal sovereignty to prohibit or restrict the cultivation of genetically engineered plants on tribal lands.
An amendment introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., that would have prohibited the use of the term “natural” on food when a food consists of a genetically engineered plant was also defeated by 163-262 vote.
The House rejected by voice vote an amendment offered by Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, that would have struck the entire bill and added back the section that creates a non-GMO certification program and label at USDA.
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