ISSUE

GMOs

PLACE IN FOOD CYCLE

Natural/Human Resources

POLICY

Chapter 151: Supervision, Inspection & Licensing of Dairy Ope 6VSA~2760-2765 Voluntary labeling of rBST free products. Must include statement that there are no significant FDA findings differentiating rBST and rBST free milk. Must adhere to truth in labeling acts and processes to eliminate potential for cross contamination, including collection, storage, transportation.

POLICY TOOL

Regulations/Judicial

SCALE

State, National and international importers.

ACTORS

Commissioner of Agriculture, Attn. General, States Attn., Judicial system, milk handlers, processors, transporters, consumers, added value goods producers, distributors, retailers, importers of milk and milk products, animal health advocates, FDA.

PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

Food security, consumers' and farmers' right to choose, right to know,animal & human health` economic health and vitality of of VT dairy industry

POLICY GOALS IMPLICATED

Security - Food security maintained through protection of genetic structure of cows. Economic security through responsiveness to consumer preference/choice. Equity - Voluntary - open to everyone. Some milk producers and cooperatives compensating farmers for loss of production for not using rBST and no longer accept milk containing rBST. Increased cost to farmers, distributors, transporters of rBST products choosing to label as such. Incur financial labeling and compliance cost if choose to label rBST free. Concern for economic loss for rBSTcontaining products due to implied negative implications of rBST Liberty - High as participatioin is voluntary. If choose to participate requires extensive record keeping and intrusion by commissioner of agriculture inspectors to ensure compliance. Efficiency - Low-moderate. Requires, at minimal, annual inspections and hence inspectors. Inspections include collection, storage, transportation, production, animals and compliance with labeling act. Enforcement and penalty involve civil, administrative or criminal judicial system. Although adminstrative components are pre-existing but require incorporation of rBST free standards vs. vise versa although rBST is the additive.

TOOL CHARACTERISTICS

Coerciveness - participation is low coerciveness. Compliance process is coercive requires multiple disclosures of records, accessability to property and may include suspension or revokal of license. Automaticity - medium. Requires special handling and inspection processes. Visibility - moderate. Labeling visible, voluntary nature limits visibility. Involved inspection/compliance processes less visable. Non-compliance findings public information. Flexibility-high for choice of participation, low once enter into participation. Certainty - High.

EXTENT POLICY SUPPORTS/HINDERS

Supports - Farmers' and publics' right to know and choose. Expands marketability for non-GMO farmers to include local, national and international markets that ban rBST/GE products. Animal health/preservation of natural gene pool. Hinders -Increase compliance and labeling cost if choose to participate.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/1998/act/act154.htm www.ratical.org/corporations/rBSTlabeling.html http://www.agbioforum.org/v3n1a0g_runge.htm
http://www.ruralvermont.org/archives/002986.htm http://www.vermontagriculture.com/nemfarm.htm