The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is appealing a federal court ruling last week that allows Vermont to move forward with new rules requiring labels for genetically modified foods.

 

In a joint lawsuit, GMA, the Snack Food Association, the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Association of Manufacturers sought a preliminary injunction from the federal district court in Vermont to stop the state from implementing its labeling law, which is set to take effect July 1, 2016.

 

The law requires manufacturers and retailers to identify whether raw and processed food sold in Vermont was produced in whole or in part through genetic engineering and prohibits manufacturers from labeling or advertising GE foods as “natural,” “naturally made,” “naturally grown” or “all natural.”