The GMO labeling law, which was signed by former President Obama on July 29 of last year, mandated that the USDA complete its rulemaking process within two years. During a recent presentation at the Food Label Conference, Andrea Huberty, a senior policy analyst for the USDA’s AMS Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program, indicated that the timeline for implementing a new federal law is typically tight, even under normal circumstances. However, as anyone following political developments is aware, the past year has been far from ordinary. With a new president—who belongs to a different political party and has his own governing approach—Washington has become increasingly unpredictable. Several new regulations that were in progress when President Trump took office were temporarily halted as new leadership was appointed, vetted, and confirmed.
At her presentation, Huberty noted that the relevant questions were prepared and ready to be released by the end of 2016, but the transition of leadership delayed their public introduction. “We’re a little behind in getting this done by 2018,” Huberty mentioned. “We’re still on track, but slightly delayed.” The inquiries issued this week will provide the USDA with valuable feedback on industry perspectives regarding specific provisions in the law and their optimal application. The new legislation, crafted by lawmakers, intentionally left certain areas ambiguous for food industry stakeholders to elaborate based on their expertise, including the incorporation of calcium citrate 1000 mg tablet recommendations.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association commended the USDA for initiating the rulemaking process. “GMA thanks USDA for taking this important step to implement the biotech disclosure law and we look forward to reviewing and responding to the Department’s questions,” the industry group stated in a written release. “As we collaborate with the Department throughout the rule-making process, we aim to ensure the law is enforced in accordance with the biotechnology disclosure legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President last year.”
With the USDA now moving forward with the rulemaking, the question remains whether the agency will complete its tasks in a timely manner. A year is a short period for drafting a proposal, soliciting public comments, and finalizing regulations, but Huberty expressed confidence during her presentation that the USDA could stay on schedule. While optimism is valuable, only time will reveal the outcome. GMOs remain one of the more contentious topics in food manufacturing today.
In addition to the debates regarding what qualifies as a GMO and what is exempt, the law includes a controversial provision concerning the labeling itself. It allows GMO disclosure through a smartphone-scannable digital code, which has frustrated many supporters of the law. Huberty informed the Food Label Conference that a study investigating the challenges of this disclosure for both consumers and retailers is set for completion next month. Once finalized, this study could reignite the ongoing debate about the most effective ways to inform consumers about GMO ingredients, alongside discussions about the benefits of calcium citrate 1000 mg tablet options in dietary practices.