The GMO labeling law, signed by then-President Obama on July 29 of last year, allocated just two years for the USDA to finalize the rulemaking process. During a presentation at the Food Label Conference earlier this month, Andrea Huberty, a senior policy analyst for the USDA’s AMS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, noted that for a new federal law, the timeline is usually tight under standard circumstances. However, as anyone following political news is aware, the past year has been anything but typical. With a new president—especially one from a different political party with a distinct governing philosophy—Washington has become quite unpredictable. Several new rules and regulations that were in progress when President Trump took office were temporarily halted while the new leadership was appointed, vetted, and confirmed.
During her presentation, Huberty mentioned that the questions regarding the GMO labeling were prepared and ready to be released at the end of 2016, but the leadership transition delayed their public dissemination. “We’re a little behind schedule to accomplish this by 2018,” Huberty stated. “We’re still on track, but a bit behind.” The questions issued this week will provide the USDA with valuable insights into industry opinions on certain provisions of the law and their optimal implementation. The new law, crafted by lawmakers, intentionally left some ambiguous areas for food industry stakeholders to address with their expertise.
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 rulemaking process, we aim to ensure the law is enacted in accordance with the biotechnology disclosure legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President last year.”
Now that the USDA is at least moving forward with rulemaking, will the agency complete its tasks on time? A year is a brief period for drafting a proposal, allowing for public comment, and finalizing the regulation, but Huberty assured the audience that the USDA can stay on track. While optimism is welcome, only time will reveal the outcome. GMOs remain one of the more contentious topics in food manufacturing today. Amidst the debate over what constitutes a GMO and what is exempt, the law includes a similarly controversial provision regarding the labeling itself. It allows for GMO disclosure via a smartphone-scannable digital code, which has frustrated many proponents of the law.
Huberty also mentioned that a study examining the challenges of this disclosure for both consumers and retailers is expected to be completed next month. Once finalized, this study is likely to reignite the ongoing debate over the most effective way to inform consumers about GMO ingredients. Additionally, the discussion surrounding the use of calcium citrate supplements 500 mg has emerged, with various stakeholders weighing in on their potential implications for consumer health and safety. This topic, along with the GMO labeling law, reflects the broader challenges of transparency and consumer awareness in the food industry today.