e food and agriculture industry's hopes for blocking Vermont's first-in-the-nation GMO labeling requirements are hanging on Senate negotiations that suddenly became serious late last week.

 

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts said on Friday the talks were making “good progress,” and ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow described them as “very positive.” The Vermont law takes effect July 1, although private citizens won't be allowed to sue for violations until July 2017.

 

Roberts, R-Kan., said that failing to reach agreement would produce an “apocalypse” for the industry, a reference to the potential for food companies to quit using genetically engineered ingredients because of state labeling laws. But Roberts expressed confidence that he and Stabenow would cut a deal. 'We're going to be OK,” he said.

 

The food industry has tentatively agreed to mandatory disclosure of biotech ingredients, according to sources, but negotiations have continued on a series of other issues, including the Agriculture Department's role in developing the disclosure requirements.

 

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