II
Calendar No. 379
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2609
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 1, 2016
Mr. Roberts, from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, reported the following original bill; which was read twice and placed on the calendar
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national voluntary labeling standard for bioengineered foods, and for other purposes.
National voluntary bioengineered food labeling standard
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
National voluntary bioengineered food labeling standard
Definitions
In this subtitle:
Bioengineering
The term bioengineering, and any similar term, as determined by the Secretary, with respect to a food, refers to a food—
that contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques; and
for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature.
Food
The term food has the meaning given the term in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Applicability
This subtitle shall apply to any claim in the labeling of food that indicates, directly or indirectly, that the food is a bioengineered food or bioengineering was used in the development or production of the food, including a claim that a food is or contains an ingredient that was developed or produced using bioengineering.
Establishment of national voluntary bioengineered food labeling standard
Establishment of standard
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subtitle, the Secretary shall—
establish a national voluntary bioengineered food labeling standard with respect to—
any bioengineered food; and
any food that may be bioengineered or may have been produced or developed using bioengineering; and
establish such requirements and procedures as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the standard.
Regulations
In general
A food may be labeled as bioengineered only in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with this subtitle.
Requirements
A regulation promulgated by the Secretary in carrying out this subtitle shall—
prohibit any express or implied claim that a food is or is not safer or of higher quality solely based on whether the food is or is not—
bioengineered; or
produced or developed with the use of bioengineering;
determine the amounts of a bioengineered substance that may be present in food, as appropriate, in order for the food to be labeled as a bioengineered food; and
establish a process for requesting and granting a determination by the Secretary regarding other factors and conditions under which a food may be labeled as a bioengineered food.
State food labeling standards
Notwithstanding section 295, no State or political subdivision of a State may directly or indirectly establish under any authority or continue in effect as to any food in interstate commerce any requirement for a food that is the subject of the bioengineered food labeling standard under this section that is not identical to that voluntary standard.
Information for consumers
Education
The Secretary, in coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall provide science-based information, including any information on the environmental, nutritional, economic, and humanitarian benefits of agricultural biotechnology, through education, outreach, and promotion to address consumer acceptance of agricultural biotechnology.
Mandatory report; publication
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this subtitle, the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
submit to Congress a report on the availability of information regarding whether food is or is not bioengineered or whether bioengineering was or was not used in the development or production of the food, including information provided through—
any relevant labeling requirements under—
the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.);
the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.);
the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.); and
other relevant Federal authorities;
process verified programs; and
other voluntary programs or claims relating to a food that are not required by Federal law or approved by a Federal program; and
make the report publicly available.
Labeling of certain food
Federal preemption
Definition of food
In this subtitle, the term food has the meaning given the term in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
Federal preemption
No State or a political subdivision of a State may directly or indirectly establish under any authority or continue in effect as to any food or seed in interstate commerce any requirement relating to the labeling of whether a food (including food served in a restaurant or similar establishment) or seed is genetically engineered (which shall include such other similar terms as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture) or was developed or produced using genetic engineering, including any requirement for claims that a food or seed is or contains an ingredient that was developed or produced using genetic engineering.
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March 1, 2016
Read twice and placed on the calendar
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