House Subcommittee Approves Language Preempting State & Local Restriction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Other Questionable Foods

The United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture has begun the process of writing the 2007 Farm Bill. Of grave concern is language added and approved by the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry that preempts state restrictions of foods or agricultural products deregulated by the USDA. The added language reads,

"no State or locality shall make any law prohibiting the use in commerce of an article that the Secretary of Agriculture has inspected and passed; or determined to be of non-regulated status."

The preemption language has been traced to Iowa Representative and Subcommittee Chair, Leonard Boswell. His intention is to prohibit state and local policies banning the sale of products approved by USDA and other regulatory agencies. The broad scope of the language would affect state and local prohibitions on the cultivation of genetically modified crops, bans on the sale of rBGH milk, and the outlawing of foie gras for starters.

At a time of pervasive food contamination and consumer displeasure with the social, ethical, and environmental aspects of food processes and production, the addition of a few lines tucked into an immense bill could weaken carefully adopted consumer protections.