Van AalstGeneva DryBühler GmbHPort of South LouisianaTelestackVigan
  • Geneva Dry
  • Van Aalst
  • Port of Stockton
  • Cimbria
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • Telestack

NGFA commends USDA

(Posted on 07/01/19)

The USA’s National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has commended the U.S. Department Agriculture’s (USDA) issuance of the final rule for the National Bioengineered Disclosure Standard.

As a member of the Steering Committee of the Safe Affordable Food Coalition, the NGFA said the rule, which USDA published on 20 December, provides consumers access to more information about the bioengineered content of the food they purchase, while providing for national uniformity in bioengineered food labeling that is essential to providing consumers with continued access to a safe, abundant and affordable food supply.

“The intent of the government-mandated bioengineered food disclosure standard is to inform, and not mislead, consumers and this final rule achieves this overridingly important objective,” NGFA noted.

NGFA and the American Feed Industry Association submitted joint comments on USDA’s proposed rule in July. NGFA said it is pleased the agency adopted many of their recommendations.

As the plain language of the law specifies, the new rule will require disclosure only when foods contain genetic material introduced through bioengineering.

“Importantly, animal feed and pet food, as well as meat, milk, eggs and other human food derived from animals fed bioengineered grains or other ingredients, are exempt from mandatory labeling,” NGFA added.

NGFA also strongly supports the final rule’s 5 percent disclosure threshold, which it said appropriately balances disclosure, market dynamics, and international trade, with such countries as Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam adopting such a labeling threshold.

The NGFA noted that the safe use of crop biotechnology in food long has been verified by numerous governmental, international and domestic scientific and regulatory bodies, including the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Medical Association, and the World Health Organization.

“Thus, the bioengineered food labeling standard is about providing more access to information to consumers; it most emphatically is not a food safety standard,” NGFA noted. USDA affirmed that the regulatory oversight provided by federal agencies ensures that foods produced using bioengineering methods meet all relevant federal health, safety and environmental standards.

The NGFA also commended USDA for relying upon customary and reasonable business records that traditionally are maintained as being sufficient for documenting compliance with the rule.

The NGFA, which recognizes that some consumers may want to know additional information about crops used to produce food, noted that USDA’s final rule allows for voluntary disclosure on labels for foods derived from bioengineered ingredients for foods that do not meet the definition of bioengineered foods because they do not contained bioengineered genetic material. Labeling is required by the Food and Drug Administration to be truthful and not misleading under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. 

Latest News

SSAB postpones commissioning of new steel mill in Luleå by 12 months

(Posted on 20/06/25)

SSAB has commenced preparatory work to build a new, state-of-the-art steel mill in Luleå, Sweden... Read more


Anglo American streamlines leadership team to reflect portfolio progress

(Posted on 20/06/25)

Anglo American plc has streamlined its executive leadership team to reflect substantial progress with... Read more


NeoSmelt welcomes Government support for steel decarbonisation project

(Posted on 20/06/25)

NeoSmelt, a consortium of leading resources, energy and manufacturing companies working together on... Read more


Telestack announces new iron ore project

(Posted on 16/06/25)

Northern Ireland based Telestack have announced that they have been awarded a contract for the supply... Read more


Bühler opens grain puffing technology centre

(Posted on 15/06/25)

Bühler has opened its new Puffing Application Center in Uzwil, Switzerland, providing food... Read more


Ore sorting demonstration project at Havre-Saint-Pierre mine launched

(Posted on 15/06/25)

Rio Tinto is investing CA$7.6 million in an industrial demonstration project to assess the integration... Read more


Bühler sets new global standard with state-of-the-art Milling Academy

(Posted on 15/06/25)

Bühler has opened a new, state-of-the-art Milling Academy – a 1,800-square-meter training... Read more


Anglo American completes demerger of Valterra Platinum

(Posted on 06/06/25)

Anglo American plc has announced that it has completed the demerger of c.51% of the Company’s... Read more


Western Range iron ore mine in Pilbara opened with Yinhawangka owners

(Posted on 06/06/25)

Rio Tinto has officially opened its newest iron ore mine, Western Range, with Western Australian Premier... Read more


Heidelberg presents Strategy 2030 to accelerate profitable growth

(Posted on 02/06/25)

Heidelberg Materials has presented its “Strategy 2030: Making a Material Difference” at... Read more


Sailors SocietyTMS Awards 2023Port of StocktonCimbriaTBA Group
  • Sailors Society
  • Vigan
  • TBA Group
  • Port of South Louisiana
  • Bühler GmbH

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping