Vermont has taken the initiative against Monsanto and other biotechnology corporations in launching new legislation that would require the labeling of products containing genetically modified ingredients.
The bill, known as the ‘VT Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act’, was introduced to the Vermont House of Representatives by Representative Kate Webb of Shelburne on February 1st, 2012.
NOFA, Rural Vermont and Full Moon Farm are among the 83 plaintiffs in a lawsuit looking to protect Vermont farmers from corporate giant Monsanto. The lawsuit, filed in March, seeks to protect Vermont farmers from being sued by Monsanto for patent infringement. To learn more about the suit click here.
It is estimated that 70% of all packaged food sold in the United States contains Genetically engineered ingredients, yet consumers have no way choosing whether or not to buy these foods because they are not labeled. In response to growing concern about this issue Representative Kate Webb of Shelburne introduced H.722, the VT Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, into the Vermont House of Representatives on February 1, 2012. The Act would address consumer concerns by requiring food sold at retail outlets in the state of Vermont to be labeled if it is genetically engineered, or produced with genetically engineered ingredients.
Our advocates are following these bills and we’ll keep you posted on opportunities to take action. Find the bill language by clicking the title.
We continue to work toward building a clean, renewable, reliable energy future for our state. VPIRG is working to pass a bill ensuring that a greater portion of your electricity comes from renewable sources. And, with 50% of Vermont’s electricity already coming from clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower, our goal, of an additional 30% more by 2025, is well within our reach.
In addition to our work to make all products safer, every year VPIRG releases our annual Trouble in Toyland report highlighting potential hazards in children’s toys. This year Trouble in Toyland, along with an interactive tool accessible via smart phone or computer at http://toysafety.mobi, will help parents and other toy-buyers avoid some common hazards this holiday-shopping season.
Take this Toy Safety Shopping Guide along with you when heading out on your holiday shopping trip. This brochure summarizes what to look out for including toxics, choking and noise hazards, and more.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau takes over enforcement of all major U.S. consumer laws July 21st. The agency was created in the wake of the Wall Street scandals that led to the Great Recession, and is tasked with protecting consumers from predatory lending and financial traps. Unfortunately, Wall Street banks have asked their friends in Congress to hamstring the agency by denying it a director. Now a new VPIRG report shows why we need this agency.
On the day that a landmark federal agency – the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – takes over enforcement of all major consumer laws, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group announced the results of a poll showing that an overwhelming majority of likely voters both support a new consumer agency (74%) and want Wall Street held “accountable” (77%). VPIRG also released a new report documenting “10 reasons” consumers need the new CFPB.
The 2011 legislative session was filled with victories on VPIRG-backed legislation across each of our program areas. With a new governor in office for the first time in eight years, our small state suddenly had opportunities to pass the kind of major policy initiatives that our friends in other parts of the country could only …
