Today, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) was informed by Assemblymember Huffman’s office that they have decided to hold AB 88—the California bill which would require that all genetically engineered (GE) fish sold in California contain clear and prominent labeling—as a 2-year bill. This means it will not be up for a second vote in the Appropriations Committee this week and will instead be held until next year when it will go through the committee process again. This will give CFS and other organizations working on the bill more time to educate California legislators about the importance of this bill and its role in protecting consumer’s right to know how they’re food is produced.
The California Assembly Health Committee passed the bill on May 3rd, 2011. CFS, a co-sponsor of the bill, testified before the Committee. Unfortunately, last week the bill didn’t get enough votes to pass in the Appropriations Committee, and was to be reconsidered this week. Instead of going to a vote this week, the bill will be held until next year.
While we were hopeful that the bill would pass this year, we will still have a good shot at it again next January and we’re optimistic the bill will reach the Governor’s desk next year.
Thank you all for your tremendous support for this bill! Though the bill fell short in Appropriations Committee votes, there was strong support from several Assemblymembers. The bill’s failure in Committee came despite clear consumer demand for labeling of GE fish, as indicated by Assemblymember Gatto’s comments in moving the bill in Appropriations, stating that he had received “hundreds” of “passionate” letters from his constituents in support of the bill.
Had it not been for our CFS True Food Network members emailing and calling Committee members, the bill would not have received the support it did. Thank you!
Read CFS’s testimony
Read AB 88
For more information on GE fish, visit CFS’s campaign websitehttp://www.ge-fish.org
For information on federal bills:
The U.S. Senate: S. 230 (ban) and S. 229 (mandatory label)
The U.S. House: H.R. 521 (ban) and H.R. 520 (mandatory labeling)
