AUGUSTA, Maine - A legislative policy committee has divided over two bills that would have addressed the mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms, clearing the path for a floor fight in the House and Senate over the issue.
Lawmakers on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee voted 7 to 3 against a bill that would have required genetically engineered seed stock and products to be included under genetic labeling laws.
The panel then went on to reject an amendment to a second GMO bill offered by Rep. Michelle Dunphy, an Old Town Democrat, who wanted to send the issue directly to the voters.
"My amendment is to put this out to referendum," Dunphy said, "and I think we need to let the people decide."
Dunphy's bill would remove a requirement under current law that five contiguous states must approve GMO labeling before Maine's labeling law can become effective. Maine's current law contains an automatic repeal provision if the five-state trigger threshold is not met by January of next year.