Bill Text: NJ AR239 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Urges enactment of "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015."

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-11-09 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [AR239 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR239-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 239

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MAY 11, 2015

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  SHAVONDA E. SUMTER

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  JACK M. CIATTARELLI

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman  BETTYLOU DECROCE

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Assemblyman  RAJ MUKHERJI

District 33 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen S.Kean, Mazzeo, Mainor, Garcia, Johnson and Space

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges enactment of "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee on November 9, 2015, with amendments.

 

An Assembly Resolution urging the enactment of the federal "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015."

 

Whereas, Consumers are interested and invested in knowing information about the foods they eat every day, from the source or origin of the food to the nutritional facts and composition of the food; and

Whereas, Certain foods and products include ¹["bioengineered]  "genetically engineered¹ organisms," commonly referred to as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are plants containing genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques rather than through the use of conventional breeding techniques; and

Whereas, In March 2015, Representative Pompeo and many other members of Congress introduced H.R. 1599, the "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015"; and

¹Whereas, In July 2015, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1599 with bipartisan support, and the bill awaits consideration by the Senate; and¹

Whereas, ¹[A provision under the] The¹ "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015" ¹[allows those who wish to label their products as GMO-free to do so through an accredited certification process established by the Secretary of Agriculture] provides that the United States Food and Drug Administration may require a GMO food to have a label that informs consumers of a material difference between the GMO food and a comparable food if the disclosure is necessary to protect public health and safety or to prevent the label from being false or misleading¹; and

Whereas, Enactment of the "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015" would avert inconsistency resulting from a patchwork of state labeling laws, while providing clarity and transparency in food labeling, supporting innovation, and keeping food affordable; and

Whereas, Under the bill, the food safety role of the United States Food and Drug Administration would be preserved and affirmed and the general public's appetite for knowing the contents of their food would be satiated; and

Whereas, It is the intent of the sponsors of the "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015" to ensure that America's farmers will continue to be able to innovate and improve the quality and quantity of their crops and provide nutritious, affordable food on families' tables both in the United States and across the world; and

Whereas, It is in the public interest, of the citizens of the State of New Jersey and this great nation, to improve consumer food

     product awareness through accurate, standardized, and transparent labeling and to support the important work of farmers; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The United States Congress is respectfully urged to support and pass, and the President to sign into law, H.R. 1599 of 2015, the "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015."

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States of America, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, every sponsor of H.R. 1599 of 2015, the "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015," and every member of Congress elected from this State.