The U.S. beet sugar industry applauded President Barack Obama for signing into law Friday a landmark agreement that protects America’s food supply system from the harmful patchwork effect of varying state food labeling laws.
The historic law will provide consumers with more information than ever before and ensure a transparent, national and non-stigmatizing system of ingredient disclosure.
“We are grateful to President Obama for swiftly signing into law a bill that is crucial for American farmers, consumers and small businesses,” said Galen Lee, a family farmer from New Plymouth, Idaho, and president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association. “His signature means federal law now preempts state GMO labeling laws and prevents the negative ramifications and havoc of Vermont’s law, which went into effect on July 1.”
“The thousands of family farmers in 11 states and their farmer owned cooperatives that make up the beet sugar industry are pleased to be part of a coalition of over 1,100 food and agricultural groups representing the entirety of our national food supply system from farm to fork in coming together to advocate for a bipartisan solution that sets a national standard,” Lee added. “We look forward to continuing our work with the coalition to ensure that, as the law enters the rule making process at USDA, implementation remains in line with congressional intent.”