H.R. 1599: Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015

The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the distribution and labeling related to bioengineered foods (often referred to as genetically modified foods or GMOs).

It would require food producers to notify FDA of any bioengineered foods intended to be sold interstate and would disallow the sale any bioengineered foods not deemed safe by FDA. Although the bill would prevent FDA from requiring the labeling of bioengineered foods only on the grounds that the foods are bioengineered, FDA could require that alterations of nutritional properties, allergens, or other characteristics of food be listed on food labeling. Regulations would also prohibit the labeling of food as not bioengineered if it had been planted with bioengineered seeds. Dairy products from animals fed bioengineered foods and foods developed using bioengineered processing aids or enzymes could still be labelled as non-bioengineered. The bill would also prevent states from issuing their own food labeling requirements for bioengineered foods.

Opposition of the bill has disapproved of the removal of state authority(article taken from response to previous incarnation of the bill), and argued the importance of labelling bioengineered foods. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS4), clarified his intentions in his press statement “the legislation takes an approach that is far better than a 50-state patchwork of GMO labelling laws” and that “GMOs are safe and have a number of important benefits for people and our planet.” This is the second time this bill has been introduced to congress. The first was during the 113th Congress where it died in committee.

Also see a related bill in the Senate.