S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
617
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, PEOPLES-STOKES, THIELE,
KEARNS, SEPULVEDA, ROBERTS, MOYA, LAVINE, COLTON, COOK, GALEF, ENGLE-
BRIGHT, MAGNARELLI, SIMOTAS, SCHIMEL, STECK, BENEDETTO, PERRY, QUART,
CLARK, CAMARA, MILLER, LOPEZ, SKARTADOS, ABINANTI, WEPRIN, OTIS, GOLD-
FEDER, MOSLEY, ORTIZ, ROZIC, BROOK-KRASNY, SCARBOROUGH, CRESPO,
PICHARDO, DAVILA, ARROYO, KIM, ROBINSON, KAVANAGH, JAFFEE -- Multi-
Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN, BRENNAN, BRINDISI, CERETTO,
CURRAN, CYMBROWITZ, FAHY, FARRELL, GLICK, HEASTIE, HEVESI, KATZ,
LENTOL, LIFTON, MARKEY, MAYER, MONTESANO, NOLAN, PAULIN, RA, RIVERA,
RODRIGUEZ, WEINSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law and the agriculture and markets
law, in relation to the labeling of genetically modified foods
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that
New York state consumers have the right to know whether the foods they
purchase have been produced with genetic engineering so they can make
informed purchasing decisions.
Further the legislature finds that:
(a) Currently, there is no federal law that requires food producers to
identify whether foods were produced with genetic engineering. At the
same time, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not
require safety studies of such foods;
(b) Identification of foods produced with genetic engineering can
provide a critical method for tracking effects of consuming foods
produced with genetic engineering;
(c) More than sixty countries, including key United States trading
partners, have laws mandating disclosure of genetically engineered
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03147-01-5
A. 617 2
foods. Identifying foods produced with genetic engineering will help
protect our state's export market;
(d) A variety of genetically engineered crops are commercially culti-
vated and sold in the United States, including corn, canola, sugar
beets, soybean, cotton, alfalfa, and papaya. It has been estimated that
70-80% of packaged grocery products contain some materials derived from
these genetically engineered crops;
(e) Without disclosure, consumers with certain dietary restrictions
may unknowingly consume such food in violation of such dietary
restrictions;
(f) Preserving the identity, quality, and reliability of agricultural
products is of prime importance to our state's fiscal health;
(g) The cultivation of genetically engineered crops can cause serious
environmental impacts;
(h) It is the intent of this act to ensure that New York consumers and
farmers are fully and reliably informed about whether the food and seed
they purchase and eat were produced with genetic engineering so they may
choose for themselves whether to purchase and eat or use such food and
seed;
(i) It is the intent of this act only to regulate the labeling of
seed, seed stock, and food for human consumption offered for retail sale
within New York State.
S 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 391-t
to read as follows:
S 391-T. GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS; REQUIRED LABELING. 1. DEFI-
NITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM:
(A) "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND
MARKETS.
(B) "DISTRIBUTOR" MEANS A PERSON OR BUSINESS ENGAGED IN ANY METHOD OF
DISTRIBUTING OR TRANSPORTING A FOOD OR FOOD PRODUCT FROM ONE PLACE TO
ANOTHER.
(C) "ENZYME" MEANS A PROTEIN THAT CATALYZES CHEMICAL REACTIONS OF
OTHER SUBSTANCES WITHOUT ITSELF BEING DESTROYED OR ALTERED UPON
COMPLETION OF THE REACTIONS.
(D) "GENETICALLY ENGINEERED," OR "GENETICALLY MODIFIED," OR ANY DERIV-
ATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, AS APPLIED TO ANY FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR
SEED MEANS PRODUCED FROM OR WITH AN ORGANISM OR ORGANISMS WITH GENETICS
ALTERED MATERIALLY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF:
(I) IN VITRO NUCLEIC ACID TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
RECOMBINANT DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA) TECHNIQUES AND THE DIRECT
INJECTION OF NUCLEIC ACID INTO CELLS OR ORGANELLES; OR
(II) THE FUSION OF CELLS BEYOND THE TAXONOMIC FAMILY THAT OVERCOMES
NATURAL PHYSIOLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, OR RECOMBINANT BARRIERS AND THAT
ARE NOT TECHNIQUES USED IN TRADITIONAL BREEDING AND SELECTION.
FOR PURPOSES OF SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "IN VITRO NUCLEIC
ACID TECHNIQUES" INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, RECOMBINANT DNA OR RNA
TECHNIQUES THAT USE VECTOR SYSTEMS, AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVING THE DIRECT
INTRODUCTION INTO THE ORGANISMS OF HEREDITARY MATERIALS PREPARED OUTSIDE
THE ORGANISMS SUCH AS BIOLISTICS, MICROINJECTION, MACRO-INJECTION,
CHEMOPORATION, ELECTROPORATION, MICROENCAPSULATION, AND LIPOSOME FUSION.
(E) "MANUFACTURER" MEANS A PERSON OR BUSINESS ENGAGED IN THE
PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF SEED, SEED STOCK, OR ANY FOOD PRODUCT.
(F) "MEDICAL FOOD" MEANS A FOOD THAT IS FORMULATED TO BE CONSUMED OR
ADMINISTERED ENTERALLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN AND THAT IS
INTENDED FOR THE SPECIFIC DIETARY MANAGEMENT OF A DISEASE OR CONDITION
A. 617 3
FOR WHICH DISTINCTIVE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, BASED ON RECOGNIZED
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES, ARE ESTABLISHED BY MEDICAL EVALUATION.
(G) "PROCESSED FOOD" MEANS ANY FOOD OTHER THAN A RAW AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITY, INCLUDING ANY FOOD PRODUCED FROM A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY
THAT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO PROCESSING SUCH AS CANNING, SMOKING, PRESSING,
COOKING, FREEZING, DEHYDRATION, FERMENTATION, OR MILLING.
(H) "PROCESSING AID" MEANS:
(I) A SUBSTANCE THAT IS ADDED TO A FOOD DURING THE PROCESSING OF THE
FOOD BUT IS REMOVED IN SOME MANNER FROM THE FOOD BEFORE IT IS PACKAGED
IN ITS FINISHED FORM;
(II) A SUBSTANCE THAT IS ADDED TO A FOOD DURING PROCESSING, IS
CONVERTED INTO CONSTITUENTS NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE FOOD, AND DOES NOT
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE CONSTITUENTS NATURALLY FOUND IN
THE FOOD; OR
(III) A SUBSTANCE THAT IS ADDED TO A FOOD FOR ITS TECHNICAL OR FUNC-
TIONAL EFFECT IN THE PROCESSING BUT IS PRESENT IN THE FINISHED FOOD AT
INSIGNIFICANT LEVELS AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY TECHNICAL OR FUNCTIONAL
EFFECT IN THAT FINISHED FOOD.
(I) "RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY" MEANS ANY PLANT, ANIMAL, OR FUNGI
GROWN OR PRODUCED FOR HUMAN FOOD-USE PURPOSES.
(J) "RETAILER" MEANS A PERSON OR BUSINESS ENGAGED IN SELLING FOOD FROM
INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES TO THE END-USER.
2. LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SEED AND FOOD. (A) ANY FOOD FOR
HUMAN CONSUMPTION, SEED, OR SEED STOCK OFFERED FOR RETAIL SALE IN NEW
YORK IS MISBRANDED IF IT IS ENTIRELY GENETICALLY ENGINEERED OR PARTIALLY
PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING AND THAT FACT IS NOT DISCLOSED AS
FOLLOWS:
(I) IN THE CASE OF A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY THAT IS NOT SEPARATELY
PACKAGED OR LABELED, THE WORDS "PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING" OR
ANY OTHER DERIVATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS "GE", "GM", OR "GMO",
OR A DERIVATIVE OF THOSE PHRASES, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE CONTAINER USED
FOR PACKAGING, HOLDING, AND/OR TRANSPORT IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS
MANNER BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND MAINTAINED BY THE DISTRIBUTOR, AND
DISPLAYED IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS MANNER ON THE RETAIL STORE SHELF OR
BIN IN WHICH SUCH COMMODITY IS OFFERED FOR SALE BY THE RETAILER.
(II) IN THE CASE OF A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY THAT IS SEPARATELY
PACKAGED OR PROCESSED FOOD CONTAINING SOME PRODUCTS OF GENETIC ENGINEER-
ING, THE MANUFACTURER MUST LABEL THE FOOD, IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS
MANNER ON THE PACKAGE OF SUCH FOOD, WITH THE WORDS "PRODUCED WITH GENET-
IC ENGINEERING" OR ANY OTHER DERIVATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS
"GE", "GM", "GMO", OR A DERIVATIVE OF THOSE PHRASES.
(III) IN THE CASE OF ANY SEED OR SEED STOCK, THE MANUFACTURER OR OTHER
ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING THE SEED MUST LABEL THE SEED OR SEED
STOCK CONTAINER, THE SALES RECEIPT, AND ANY OTHER REFERENCE TO IDENTIFI-
CATION, OWNERSHIP, OR POSSESSION, IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS MANNER WITH
THE WORDS "PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING" OR ANY OTHER DERIVATIVE OF
THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS "GE", "GM", "GMO", OR A DERIVATIVE OF THOSE
PHRASES.
(B) THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE EITHER THE LISTING
OR IDENTIFICATION OF ANY INGREDIENTS THAT WERE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED,
NOR THAT THE PHRASE "PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING" OR ANY OTHER
DERIVATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS "GE", "GM", "GMO", OR A DERIVA-
TIVE OF THOSE PHRASES BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ANY COMMON NAME OR
PRIMARY PRODUCT DESCRIPTOR OF A FOOD.
(C) ANY PROCESSED FOOD THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SOLELY
BECAUSE IT INCLUDES ONE OR MORE MATERIALS PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGI-
A. 617 4
NEERING IS NOT MISBRANDED PROVIDED THAT THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATE-
RIALS IN THE AGGREGATE DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN NINE-TENTHS OF ONE
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE PROCESSED FOOD.
(D) THIS SUBDIVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) FOOD CONSISTING ENTIRELY OF, OR DERIVED ENTIRELY FROM, AN ANIMAL
THAT HAS NOT ITSELF BEEN PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING, REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN FED WITH ANY FOOD PRODUCED WITH GENETIC
ENGINEERING OR TREATED WITH ANY DRUG OR VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED
WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING;
(II) A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, OR SEED THAT HAS
BEEN GROWN, RAISED, PRODUCED, OR DERIVED WITHOUT THE KNOWING AND INTEN-
TIONAL USE OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SEED OR FOOD. TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN
THE EXCLUSION UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH, THE PERSON OR ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR
COMPLYING WITH THIS SUBDIVISION WITH RESPECT TO A RAW AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK MUST OBTAIN, FROM WHOMEV-
ER SOLD THE RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED
STOCK TO THAT PERSON, A WRITTEN STATEMENT, WHICH MAY BE INCLUDED ON AN
INVOICE THAT MAY BE IN AN ELECTRONIC FORM, THAT THE RAW AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK: (1) HAS NOT BEEN KNOW-
INGLY OR INTENTIONALLY PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING; AND (2) HAS
BEEN SEGREGATED FROM, AND HAS NOT BEEN KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY
COMMINGLED WITH FOODS OR SEEDS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH GENETIC
ENGINEERING;
(III) ANY PROCESSED FOOD THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SOLELY
BECAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE PROCESSING AIDS OR ENZYMES USED IN ITS
PRODUCTION WERE PRODUCED WITH OR DERIVED FROM GENETIC ENGINEERING;
(IV) ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE THAT IS SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE ALCO-
HOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW;
(V) FOOD THAT HAS BEEN LAWFULLY CERTIFIED TO BE LABELED, MARKETED, AND
OFFERED FOR SALE AS "ORGANIC" PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL ORGANIC FOODS
PRODUCTION ACT OF 1990, 7 U.S.C. 6501, ET SEQ. AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO
TIME, AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT
THERETO BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE;
(VI) FOOD THAT IS NOT PACKAGED FOR SALE AND THAT EITHER: (I) IS A
PROCESSED FOOD PREPARED AND INTENDED FOR IMMEDIATE HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR
(II) IS SERVED, SOLD, OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN ANY RESTAURANT, FOOD
FACILITY, OR FOOD RETAILER THAT IS ENGAGED IN THE SALE OF FOOD PREPARED
AND INTENDED FOR IMMEDIATE HUMAN CONSUMPTION; OR
(VII) MEDICAL FOOD.
3. VIOLATIONS. (A) ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTI-
TY VIOLATING THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PENALTIES FOR FALSE
LABELS AND MISREPRESENTATIONS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED
NINETY-TWO-B OF THIS ARTICLE, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT A RETAILER SHALL NOT
BE SUBJECT TO THE PENALTIES UNDER SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-TWO-B OF
THIS ARTICLE UNLESS (I) THE RETAILER IS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE GENET-
ICALLY ENGINEERED RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR
SEED STOCK AND SELLS THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMOD-
ITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK UNDER A BRAND IT OWNS OR (II)
THE RETAILER'S FAILURE TO LABEL WAS KNOWING AND WILLFUL.
(B) ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHO VIOLATES THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY OF NOT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND
DOLLARS PER DAY, PER PRODUCT.
4. NOTICE OF VIOLATION. IN ANY CASE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A FINAL
DETERMINATION BY THE DEPARTMENT, OF A VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC,
WITHOUT CHARGE, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
A. 617 5
(A) THE NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS OF THE VIOLATOR;
(B) THE DATE OR DATES OF INSPECTION OF THE VIOLATOR'S PREMISES BY THE
DEPARTMENT;
(C) THE VIOLATION THAT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE OCCURRED, INCLUDING THE
NAME OF THE PRODUCT; AND
(D) THE AMOUNT OF THE PENALTY THAT WAS ASSESSED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
5. THIRD-PARTY PROTECTION; RELIANCE ON WRITTEN STATEMENT. A DISTRIBU-
TOR OR RETAILER THAT SELLS A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD,
SEED, OR SEED STOCK THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING THAT
FAILS TO MAKE THE DISCLOSURE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF
THIS SECTION, IS NOT SUBJECT TO FINANCIAL LIABILITY IN ANY CIVIL ACTION
TO ENFORCE THIS SECTION IF THE DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER RELIED ON THE
WRITTEN STATEMENT OBTAINED UNDER SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION
PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMOD-
ITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE DISCLO-
SURE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS SECTION.
S 3. Section 198 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
12. THE TERM: (A) "DISTRIBUTOR" MEANS A PERSON OR BUSINESS ENGAGED IN
ANY METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING OR TRANSPORTING A FOOD OR FOOD PRODUCT FROM
ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
(B) "ENZYME" MEANS A PROTEIN THAT CATALYZES CHEMICAL REACTIONS OF
OTHER SUBSTANCES WITHOUT ITSELF BEING DESTROYED OR ALTERED UPON
COMPLETION OF THE REACTIONS.
(C) "GENETICALLY ENGINEERED," OR "GENETICALLY MODIFIED," OR ANY DERIV-
ATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, AS APPLIED TO ANY FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR
SEED MEANS PRODUCED FROM OR WITH AN ORGANISM OR ORGANISMS WITH GENETICS
ALTERED MATERIALLY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF:
(I) IN VITRO NUCLEIC ACID TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
RECOMBINANT DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA) TECHNIQUES AND THE DIRECT
INJECTION OF NUCLEIC ACID INTO CELLS OR ORGANELLES; OR
(II) THE FUSION OF CELLS BEYOND THE TAXONOMIC FAMILY THAT OVERCOMES
NATURAL PHYSIOLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, OR RECOMBINANT BARRIERS AND THAT
ARE NOT TECHNIQUES USED IN TRADITIONAL BREEDING AND SELECTION.
FOR PURPOSES OF SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "IN VITRO NUCLEIC
ACID TECHNIQUES" INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, RECOMBINANT DNA OR RNA
TECHNIQUES THAT USE VECTOR SYSTEMS AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVING THE DIRECT
INTRODUCTION INTO THE ORGANISMS OF HEREDITARY MATERIALS PREPARED OUTSIDE
THE ORGANISMS SUCH AS BIOLISTICS, MICROINJECTION, MACRO-INJECTION,
CHEMOPORATION, ELECTROPORATION, MICROENCAPSULATION, AND LIPOSOME FUSION.
(D) "MANUFACTURER" MEANS A PERSON OR BUSINESS ENGAGED IN THE
PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF SEED, SEED STOCK, OR ANY FOOD PRODUCT.
(E) "MEDICAL FOOD" MEANS A FOOD THAT IS FORMULATED TO BE CONSUMED OR
ADMINISTERED ENTERALLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN AND THAT IS
INTENDED FOR THE SPECIFIC DIETARY MANAGEMENT OF A DISEASE OR CONDITION
FOR WHICH DISTINCTIVE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, BASED ON RECOGNIZED
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES, ARE ESTABLISHED BY MEDICAL EVALUATION.
(F) "PROCESSED FOOD" MEANS ANY FOOD OTHER THAN A RAW AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITY, INCLUDING ANY FOOD PRODUCED FROM A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY
THAT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO PROCESSING SUCH AS CANNING, SMOKING, PRESSING,
COOKING, FREEZING, DEHYDRATION, FERMENTATION, OR MILLING.
(G) "PROCESSING AID" MEANS:
(I) A SUBSTANCE THAT IS ADDED TO A FOOD DURING THE PROCESSING OF THE
FOOD BUT IS REMOVED IN SOME MANNER FROM THE FOOD BEFORE IT IS PACKAGED
IN ITS FINISHED FORM;
A. 617 6
(II) A SUBSTANCE THAT IS ADDED TO A FOOD DURING PROCESSING, IS
CONVERTED INTO CONSTITUENTS NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE FOOD, AND DOES NOT
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE CONSTITUENTS NATURALLY FOUND IN
THE FOOD; OR
(III) A SUBSTANCE THAT IS ADDED TO A FOOD FOR ITS TECHNICAL OR FUNC-
TIONAL EFFECT IN THE PROCESSING BUT IS PRESENT IN THE FINISHED FOOD AT
INSIGNIFICANT LEVELS AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY TECHNICAL OR FUNCTIONAL
EFFECT IN THAT FINISHED FOOD.
(H) "RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY" MEANS ANY PLANT, ANIMAL, OR FUNGI
GROWN OR PRODUCED FOR HUMAN FOOD-USE PURPOSES.
(I) "RETAILER" MEANS A PERSON OR BUSINESS ENGAGED IN SELLING FOOD FROM
INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES TO THE END-USER.
S 4. Section 201 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 15 to read as follows:
15. (A) ANY FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, SEED, OR SEED STOCK OFFERED
FOR RETAIL SALE IN NEW YORK IS MISBRANDED IF IT IS ENTIRELY GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED OR PARTIALLY PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING AND THAT FACT
IS NOT DISCLOSED AS FOLLOWS:
(I) IN THE CASE OF A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY THAT IS NOT SEPARATELY
PACKAGED OR LABELED, THE WORDS "PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING" OR
ANY OTHER DERIVATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS "GE", "GM", OR "GMO",
OR A DERIVATIVE OF THOSE PHRASES, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE CONTAINER USED
FOR PACKAGING, HOLDING, AND/OR TRANSPORT IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS
MANNER BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND MAINTAINED BY THE DISTRIBUTOR, AND
DISPLAYED IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS MANNER ON THE RETAIL SHELF OR BIN
IN WHICH SUCH COMMODITY IS OFFERED FOR SALE BY THE RETAILER.
(II) IN THE CASE OF A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY THAT IS SEPARATELY
PACKAGED OR PROCESSED FOOD CONTAINING SOME PRODUCTS OF GENETIC ENGINEER-
ING, THE MANUFACTURER MUST LABEL THE FOOD, IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS
MANNER ON THE PACKAGE OF SUCH FOOD, WITH THE WORDS "PRODUCED WITH GENET-
IC ENGINEERING" OR ANY OTHER DERIVATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS
"GE", "GM", "GMO", OR A DERIVATIVE OF THOSE PHRASES.
(III) IN THE CASE OF ANY SEED OR SEED STOCK, THE MANUFACTURER OR OTHER
ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING THE SEED MUST LABEL THE SEED OR SEED
STOCK CONTAINER, THE SALES RECEIPT, AND ANY OTHER REFERENCE TO IDENTIFI-
CATION, OWNERSHIP, OR POSSESSION, IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS MANNER WITH
THE WORDS "PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING" OR ANY OTHER DERIVATIVE OF
THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS "GE,", "GM", "GMO", OR A DERIVATIVE OF THOSE
PHRASES.
(B) THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE EITHER THE
LISTING OR IDENTIFICATION OF ANY INGREDIENTS THAT WERE GENETICALLY ENGI-
NEERED, NOR THAT THE PHRASE "PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING" OR ANY
OTHER DERIVATIVE OF THOSE WORDS, THE INITIALS "GE," "GM", "GMO", OR A
DERIVATIVE OF THOSE PHRASES BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ANY COMMON
NAME OR PRIMARY PRODUCT DESCRIPTOR OF A FOOD.
(C) ANY PROCESSED FOOD THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SOLELY
BECAUSE IT INCLUDES ONE OR MORE MATERIALS PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGI-
NEERING IS NOT MISBRANDED PROVIDED THAT THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATE-
RIALS IN THE AGGREGATE DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN NINE-TENTHS OF ONE
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE PROCESSED FOOD.
(D) THIS SUBDIVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) FOOD CONSISTING ENTIRELY OF, OR DERIVED ENTIRELY FROM, AN ANIMAL
THAT HAS NOT ITSELF BEEN PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING, REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN FED WITH ANY FOOD PRODUCED WITH GENETIC
ENGINEERING OR TREATED WITH ANY DRUG OR VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED
WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING;
A. 617 7
(II) A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, OR SEED THAT HAS
BEEN GROWN, RAISED, PRODUCED, OR DERIVED WITHOUT THE KNOWING AND INTEN-
TIONAL USE OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SEED OR FOOD. TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN
THE EXCLUSION UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH, THE PERSON OR ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR
COMPLYING WITH PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION WITH RESPECT TO A RAW
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK MUST OBTAIN,
FROM WHOMEVER SOLD THE RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED,
OR SEED STOCK MUST OBTAIN, FROM WHOMEVER SOLD THE RAW AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK TO THAT PERSON, A WRITTEN
STATEMENT, WHICH MAY BE INCLUDED ON AN INVOICE THAT MAY BE IN AN ELEC-
TRONIC FORM, THAT THE RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED,
OR SEED STOCK: (1) HAS NOT BEEN KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY PRODUCED WITH
GENETIC ENGINEERING; AND (2) HAS BEEN SEGREGATED FROM, AND HAS NOT BEEN
KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY COMMINGLED WITH FOODS OR SEEDS THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN PRODUCED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING;
(III) ANY PROCESSED FOOD THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS SUBDIVISION
SOLELY BECAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE PROCESSING AIDS OR ENZYMES USED IN ITS
PRODUCTION WERE PRODUCED WITH OR DERIVED FROM GENETIC ENGINEERING;
(IV) ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE THAT IS SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE ALCO-
HOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW;
(V) FOOD THAT HAS BEEN LAWFULLY CERTIFIED TO BE LABELED, MARKETED, AND
OFFERED FOR SALE AS "ORGANIC" PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL ORGANIC FOODS
PRODUCTION ACT OF 1990, 7 U.S.C. 6501, ET SEQ. AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO
TIME, AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT
THERETO BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE;
(VI) FOOD THAT IS NOT PACKAGED FOR SALE AND THAT EITHER: (I) IS A
PROCESSED FOOD PREPARED AND INTENDED FOR IMMEDIATE HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR
(II) IS SERVED, SOLD, OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN ANY RESTAURANT, FOOD
FACILITY, OR FOOD RETAILER THAT IS ENGAGED IN THE SALE OF FOOD PREPARED
AND INTENDED FOR IMMEDIATE HUMAN CONSUMPTION; OR
(VII) MEDICAL FOOD.
(E)(I) ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY VIOLATING
THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PENALTIES FOR FALSE LABELS AND
MISREPRESENTATIONS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-TWO-B OF
THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT A RETAILER SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO THE PENALTIES UNDER SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-TWO-B OF THE
GENERAL BUSINESS LAW UNLESS (1) THE RETAILER IS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED,
OR SEED STOCK AND SELLS THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED RAW AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK UNDER A BRAND IT OWNS OR
(2) THE RETAILER'S FAILURE TO LABEL WAS KNOWING AND WILLFUL.
(II) ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHO VIOLATES THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
SECTION SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY OF NOT MORE THAN ONE THOU-
SAND DOLLARS PER DAY, PER PRODUCT.
(F) IN ANY CASE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A FINAL DETERMINATION BY THE
DEPARTMENT, OF A VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION,
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, WITHOUT CHARGE, THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
(I) THE NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS OF THE VIOLATOR;
(II) THE DATE OR DATES OF INSPECTION OF THE VIOLATOR'S PREMISES BY THE
DEPARTMENT;
(III) THE VIOLATION THAT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE OCCURRED, INCLUDING
THE NAME OF THE PRODUCT; AND
(IV) THE AMOUNT OF THE PENALTY THAT WAS ASSESSED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
(G) A DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER THAT SELLS A RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY,
PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED WITH GENETIC
A. 617 8
ENGINEERING THAT FAILS TO MAKE THE DISCLOSURE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE-T OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IS NOT
SUBJECT TO FINANCIAL LIABILITY IN ANY CIVIL ACTION TO ENFORCE THIS
SECTION IF THE DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER RELIED ON THE WRITTEN STATEMENT
OBTAINED UNDER SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE-T OF
THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE
RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY, PROCESSED FOOD, SEED, OR SEED STOCK IS NOT
SUBJECT TO THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS UNDER SUCH SECTION.
S 5. Severability clause. If any provision of this act or its applica-
tion to any person, legal entity, or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons, legal entity or circumstances shall not be affected.
S 6. This act shall take effect twenty-four months after it shall have
become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the depart-
ment of agriculture and markets shall adopt any rules and regulations
necessary to implement this act, including, but not limited to, creating
and maintaining a list, which shall be made available to the public at
no cost, of raw agricultural commodities that are produced with genetic
engineering; provided, further, that the department of agriculture and
markets is not authorized to create any exemptions beyond those provided
for in paragraph (d) of subdivision 2 of section 391-t of the general
business law as added by section two of this act and paragraph (d) of
subdivision 15 of section 201 of the agriculture and markets law as
added by section four of this act; this act shall remain in effect until
such time as a comprehensive federal system requiring mandatory labeling
of raw agricultural commodities, processed foods, seed, and seed stock
produced with genetic engineering is implemented, provided however that
nothing contained herein shall prevent the state from exercising any
concurrent authority authorized by federal law; provided that the
commissioner of agriculture and markets shall notify the legislative
bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of the enactment of a
comprehensive federal system requiring mandatory labeling of raw agri-
cultural commodities, processed foods, seed, and seed stock produced
with genetic engineering in order that the commission may maintain an
accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws
of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions
of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public
officers law.