May 8th was a great day in Montpelier! Governor Shumlin signed Vermont’s GMO labeling bill into law making Vermont the first state that will require labels on genetically engineered foods.
The law will require labels on genetically engineered foods (also called genetically modified organisms, or GMOs) sold at retail outlets in Vermont, and will go in to effect on July 1st 2016. The law would also prohibit labeling products produced with genetic engineering as “natural”, “100% natural” or “all natural”.
The bill signing took place on a beautiful afternoon on the State House steps, with a crowd of approximately 300 people, and was followed by a celebration accompanied by several musical performances and Ben and Jerry’s scooping free ice cream for all in attendance.
During the signing ceremony Governor Shumlin made sure to recognize the incredible efforts of the VPIRG canvassers who spent last summer going to ever city, town, village grant and gore in the state of Vermont to build support for GMO labeling.
“This is not only a victory for the people of Vermont, it’s a victory for the millions of Americans who are demanding the right to know what’s in their food,” said VPIRG Consumer Protection Advocate Falko Schilling. “Today affirms that when the people stand up and speak with one voice meaningful change can happen.”
We couldn’t have done it without all of you! Thank you all for your support, your continued involvement, and most of all, your passion. Not only did you make this happen here in Vermont, but you’ve helped to provide an inspiration and a model for the rest of the country to follow. We did it!
Check out some of the media coverage from the day:
Burlington Free Press
VTDigger: (includes video of whole signing ceremony)
Fox 44/ABC
Huffington Post (AP story)
USA Today
Check out VPIRG photos from the event!
