The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has welcomed President Barack Obama's signing of Roberts-Stabenow GMO labeling bill into law last Friday.

In essence the law means food products will need to provide some indication of their GM status, put whether to put the actual words "GMO" will be optional with the possibility for manufacturers to simply provide a code or symbol.

The law is also expected to preclude state GMO labeling laws as is the case in Vermont.

"We are happy to see this bill signed into law because it is important to have a labeling system in place for genetically engineered foods that doesn't interfere with commerce. A patchwork of 50 or more laws would certainly interfere with commerce," said PMA chief science & technology officer Bob Whitaker in a release.

"The work isn't over yet, there's still the rulemaking process which will take approximately 18-24 months. PMA will certainly be participating in that rulemaking process to make sure that the produce industry's voice is heard.

"We are also glad to now have a path forward to label these foods because in the years ahead we will be challenged to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to an every growing world population; we will want to have access to these technologies to help us meet that challenge."

Headline Photo: Barack Obama (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

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