What do you think?
Dear Tyson:
Thank you for sharing with me your concerns regarding genetically engineered crops and foods. I appreciate hearing from you.
Since the first genetically engineered (GE) crops became commercially available in the mid-1990s, U.S. soybean, cotton, and corn farmers have rapidly adopted them. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food, including that from biotechnology, primarily to ensure that it poses no human health risks, mainly under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the Public Health Service Act. Under the FFDCA, all food and feed manufacturers must ensure that the domestic and imported products they market are safe and properly labeled. All domestic and imported foods and feeds, whether or not they are derived from GE crops, must meet the same standards.
There are concerns that the GE foods include genes that could prove allergenic, introduce increased toxicity, or otherwise be harmful to human health. Some critics contend that the FDA regulation process lacks transparency since the agency places all the responsibility to generate safety data on manufacturers instead of conducting its own tests. Supporters of the current system, on the other hand, argue that additional testing and oversight are unnecessary because all foods currently must meet the same federal safety standards regardless of whether or not they are genetically engineered.
Stemming from some of these concerns regarding GE foods, Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH] introduced H.R. 6636, the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, on July 29, 2008. H.R. 6636 would have required that food manufactures provide labeling information informing the consumer if a product had been produced with a genetically engineered material. Additionally, this measure would have subjected violators to civil monetary penalties. This measure was referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture and the House Energy and Commerce Committee for further consideration. Unfortunately, H.R. 6636 was not considered prior to the adjournment of the 110th Congress. It must be reintroduced in the 111th Congress before it can again receive consideration. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind should I have the opportunity to vote on this bill or other legislation related to GE foods during the 111th Congress.
Thank you again for contacting me. I hope you will continue to keep in touch and please feel free to let me know whenever I may be of assistance.
Very truly yours,
DENNIS MOORE
Member of Congress