Elton's Bill to Require Labeling and Identification of Genetically Modified Fish Passes Senate Labor and Commerce

Senate Bill 25, sponsored [statement] by Senator Kim Elton (D-Juneau), will require Alaska retailers to identify and label foods containing fish and shellfish, or fish and shellfish products that have been genetically modified. This bill comes in response to concerns raised by consumer, environmental, health, and Alaska fish marketing groups.

Currently, legislation in the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia requires labeling on foods made from, or containing GM products. SB 5 is similar to legislation introduced in other states, such as Oregon and California, and it comes with the unanimous support of the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force, a committee comprised of legislators, seafood harvesters and seafood processors.

Senate Bill 25 now goes to Senate Resources.

Kerttula's Resolution to Require Country of Origin Labeling Passes House Resources

House Joint Resolution 6, sponsored [statement] by Representative Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau), shows support for the timely implementation of COOL (country of origin labeling) for fish and opposes excluding processed food items from the labeling requirements.

Under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, COOL requirements for fish were to be implemented on September 30, 2004. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has pushed the effective date to April 2005 and extended the comment period on proposed regulations to February 2, 2005. Included in the proposed regulations is an exclusion for processed food items, which would include canned and smoked fish. Many Alaskan fish products are processed in some way and sometimes these are the only products available to many Americans.

These national labeling standards will help maintain the vitality of Alaska's fishing industry by allowing consumers to make informed choices in the marketplace.

HJR 6 now goes to the Floor.

Upcoming Events-

Thursday, February 10th-Representative Beth Kerttula will be the guest speaker at the Egan Forum at the Baranof Hotel (Juneau) beginning at noon. The title of her talk is "Inside the Minority: The Real Story."

Putting Alaskans First - Moving Alaska Forward