LABEL GENETICALLY

ALTERED FOODS



House Bill 5395

Sponsor: Rep. Lynne Martinez

Committee: Agriculture and Resource

Management


Complete to 5-10-00



A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5395 AS INTRODUCED 2-17-00


The Michigan Food Law of 1968, among other things, prohibits the misbranding of food (MCL 289.707) and specifies that a food is misbranded if it falls under any of a list of circumstances, including "if its labeling is false or misleading in any particular." The bill would amend the act to require the labeling of genetically modified food by including in the current list that specifies circumstances under which a food is "misbranded" food that was "genetically modified food or [came] from a genetically modified organism without being clearly labeled as such in a manner acceptable to the department [of Agriculture]."


Definitions. The bill would define "genetically modified food" and "genetically modified organism." "Genetically modified food" would mean "food that [was] derived from a genetically altered organism or from a plant or animal fed or treated with materials from a genetically modified organism." "Genetically modified food" would include a food product containing an ingredient from a genetically modified organism or a plant or animal fed or treated with materials from a genetically modified organism.


A "genetically modified organism" would mean "an organism whose genome [had] been altered using cellular and molecular methods for genetic modification that [was] not traditionally used to select beneficial traits."


Other provisions. The bill also would rewrite current provisions in the list of circumstances under which food is misbranded that refer to rules establishing exemptions for reasons of practicality, deception, and unfair competition.


MCL 289.717






Analyst: S. Ekstrom



This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.