Washington, D.C., July 15, 2016—In response to passage of S. 764, the “Biotech Labeling Solutions Act,” the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, today issued the following statement:
Statement by Steve Mister, president and CEO, CRN:
“CRN appreciates the bi-partisan, cooperative efforts demonstrated by Congress in passing a bill that establishes a single, national standard that companies can reasonably apply to ensure consumers have access to information regarding product ingredients. This bill, once signed into law, applies to conventional food and dietary supplements, and prevents a patchwork of state-by-state laws that would have led to consumer confusion and higher product costs.
In leading the efforts for passage of this bill, Representatives Mike Conaway (R-TX), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) demonstrated strong leadership, and Congress showed an impressive spirit of compromise by putting consumers’ needs first. We appreciate the effort and view it as a hallmark of what Congress can accomplish when committed to working together.
This bill is a constructive and practical solution for consumers seeking to educate themselves about whether or not products contain genetically engineered ingredients in order to make informed purchasing decisions. It also provides reasonable options for companies to convey this information in a way that is easy for consumers to access and understand. It’s a win all around. President Obama has indicated his intention to sign this bill into law, and we urge the President to do so.”