New York State Assembly - Public Hearing on the Use of Biotechnology in Foods and Its Effects on Consumers

New York State Assembly - Audio/Video of Session:

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND
PROTECTION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Testimony by Invitation Only
SUBJECT:
The use of biotechnology in foods and its effects on consumers.
PURPOSE:
To examine the impacts of state labeling requirements for foods containing genetically
modified organisms (GMOs), as proposed by A.3525-A, and the effects the bill would
have should it become law.
New York City
Lehman College, East Dining Room
250 Bedford Park Blvd W
Tuesday
July 30, 2013
10 a.m.
In recent years, a consumer's ability to know if the food he or she eats contains
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has become a growing issue of contention.
Legislators in several states, including New York, have introduced legislation that would
require foods containing GMOs to be labeled to indicate the presence of GMOs.
Consumer and food advocates argue that a labeling requirement would provide
consumers with a better understanding of the foods they buy. Retail, agricultural, and
biotechnology advocates contend that such labeling requirements would be unnecessary,
costly, and perhaps unlawful. This hearing seeks to solicit information regarding
scientific research and data on the health and safety of GMOs in foods, federal and state
policy related to foods containing GMOs, and the potential economic and legal
implications of requiring labels on foods containing GMOs.
Oral testimony will be by invitation only and limited to five (5) minutes' duration. In
preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual
requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early
as possible.
Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration
desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and
organizations of the Committee's interest in receiving written testimony from all sources.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in
accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services
available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities,
accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals
access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.
JEFFREY DINOWITZ
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND
PROTECTION
Public Hearing on the Use of Biotechnology in Foods and its Effects on Consumers
WITNESS LIST
Michael Hansen, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
Consumers Union
Jeff Williams, Manager of Government Relations
New York Farm Bureau
Eric Ooms, Vice President/Dairy Farmer
New York Farm Bureau
Beth Chittenden, Dutch Hollow Farm
New York Farm Bureau/New York Corn and Soybean Association
Laura Haight, Senior Environmental Associate
New York Public Interest Research GroupJohanna Dyer, Attorney
Natural Resources Defense Council
Louis Finkel, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Michael Rosen, Senior Vice President
Food Industry Alliance of New York State
Patty Lovera, Assistant Director
Food and Water Watch
Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director
Center for Food Safety
Stacie Orell, Campaign Director
GMO Free New York
L. Val Giddings, Ph.D., President
PrometheusAB, Inc.
Scott Chaskey, Director
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York/Quail Hill Farm
David Byrnes, Founder
Good Boy Organics