Walz Statement on H.R. 1599

Statement

Today, Congressman Tim Walz released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 which would strengthen the food labeling process and create national uniformity in the non-genetically engineered (non-GE) claim. The bill is modeled after the highly successful National Organic Program at USDA, which has helped the organic industry grow from $3.6 billion in sales in 1997 to more than $39 billion today.

"To give consumers peace of mind, we must work to set clear, uniform standards to certify what qualifies as non-GE. A patchwork of state labeling laws will only lead to confusion and uncertainty. This bill, modeled after the highly successful, voluntary, certified organic program at USDA will establish these standards and ensure uniformity across the country.

"Some argue, due to their concerns about GE food safety, that mandatory labeling is needed. The fact is that the data simply doesn't support their claim. Hundreds of scientific, peer reviewed studies have found GE foods are just as safe and nutritious as non-GE foods. That being the case, I do understand folks who want more information on their label. That is why this bill works, because it creates certainty across the country and will give consumers' confidence that a product labeled "non-GE' will be certified by the USDA."

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