SALEM—Federal authorities have been slow to answer questions about genetic engineering regulations asked by a state task force assembled by Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber.
Kitzhaber launched the task force earlier this year to write a report framing the controversy over genetically modified organisms and how they’re regulated in Oregon.
Task force members held a teleconference in early July with representatives from the USDA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which jointly regulate biotechnology.
Task force members followed up with two sets of questions to clarify such issues as how the government increases tolerance levels of pesticides on biotech crops. They requested a response by mid-August.
As of the task force’s latest meeting on Sept. 3, only the FDA has provided responses to the questions, according to state officials at the meeting.
“I personally am disappointed they have not been able to come back to come back to us with concrete responses,” said Ivan Maluski, director of Friends of Family Farmers, a group that’s critical of federal oversight of biotechnology.
Stephanie Page of the Oregon Department of Agriculture said representatives from USDA and EPA have apologized for the delay, citing the absences of key officials.
It appears that some of the FDA’s responses left task force members underwhelmed.
Specifically, the task force asked FDA whether the agency is enforcing laws against misleading labeling of genetically modified organisms in food.
The agency said that it doesn’t consider the presence of GMO ingredients a “material” fact that must be disclosed to consumers, but supports voluntary labeling.
“What struck me by their answer is that they didn’t really answer the question,” said Connie Kirby, vice president of scientific and technical affairs for the Northwest Food Processors Association, an industry group that opposes mandatory labeling.
The task force received a visit from Kitzhaber, who said he has put forth a “placeholder bill” for the 2015 legislative session, in case some kind of GMO bill is found to be a viable option.
He also urged task force members to think about ways that biotech crops can coexist with organic and conventional ones.
“That to me is a central question, how we address that,” Kitzhaber said.
Richard Whitman, the governor’s natural resources policy adviser, later said the task force is expected to better explain the complexities of the GMO controversy, and not to propose legislation.
Any policy proposals would be made by Whitman’s office in consultation with legislators, he said.
Source: www.capitalpress.com