Bill Text: CT HB06798 | 2015 | General Assembly | Comm Sub


Bill Title: An Act Requiring Labeling Of Baby Food And Infant Formula Containing Genetically Engineered Organisms.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-26 - Motion Failed MF [HB06798 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2015-HB06798-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly

 

Substitute Bill No. 6798

January Session, 2015

 

*_____HB06798KID___030615____*

AN ACT REQUIRING LABELING OF BABY FOOD AND INFANT FORMULA CONTAINING GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISMS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015) (a) For purposes of this section, "baby food" means a prepared solid food consisting of a soft paste or an easily chewed food that is intended for consumption by children two years of age or younger and is commercially available; and "infant formula" means a milk-based or soy-based powder, concentrated liquid or ready-to-feed substitute for human breast milk that is intended for infant consumption and is commercially available.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21a-92c of the general statutes, on and after July 1, 2017, any infant formula or baby food that is partially or entirely produced with genetic engineering, as defined in section 21a-92b of the general statutes, and is offered or intended for retail sale in the state shall include labeling that states in a clear and conspicuous manner, "produced with genetic engineering". Such labeling shall be displayed in the same size and font as the ingredients in the nutritional facts panel on the food label.

(c) Infant formula or baby food that is produced partially or entirely with genetically engineered materials that does not display "produced with genetic engineering" in a clear and conspicuous manner on its labeling as provided in subsection (b) of this section shall be deemed misbranded pursuant to section 21a-102 of the general statutes, except that such infant formula or baby food shall not be considered misbranded if it (1) is produced by a person who (A) was without knowledge that such infant formula or baby food was created with materials that were partially or entirely produced with genetic engineering, and (B) obtains a sworn statement from the party that sold such materials to such person that such materials have not been knowingly genetically engineered and have not been knowingly commingled with any genetically engineered materials; and (2) prior to July 1, 2021, is subject to the labeling requirement of subsection (b) of this section solely because it includes one or more materials produced with genetic engineering that, in the aggregate, accounts for nine-tenths of one per cent or less of the total weight of the infant formula or baby food.

(d) The Department of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Environmental Protection and Public Health, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this section.

(e) A distributor or retailer that sells or advertises infant formula or baby food that fails to conform to the labeling requirements in subsection (b) of this section shall not be found liable or negligent in any civil proceeding brought to enforce the provisions of this section.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1

October 1, 2015

New section

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

In Section 1(b), "Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21a-92c of the general statutes," was added for clarity and statutory consistency.

KID

Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO

 
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