OREGON PSR CAMPAIGN FOR SAFE FOOD UPDATE FEB. 28, 2008

State Battles over rBGH-free Labeling Intensify Monsanto and their supporters continue their assault on state governments throughout the country, and our coalition of non-profits continue to confront them everywhere they show up. Here's the latest:

Kansas: The Senate Agriculture Committee held hearings Monday and Tuesday on SB 595, which would ban any kind of rBGH-free labeling. It would also ban any kind of compositional label claim that couldn't be verified by a lab test.

The eight bill proponents testifying included a dairy farmer who is the co-chairman of Monsanto's front group (AFACT), the Farm Bureau and d the Kansas Dairy Association. Our side had 14 people testify against it, including representatives from the Kansas Farmers Union, Humane Society, Sierra Club, several dairies and even the Kansas Livestock Association. Moreover, the members of the Senate Ag Committee have received tons of comments opposing the bill. With all this opposition, we're hoping the bill will not be brought up for a vote, but there are no guarantees.

Utah: The Utah Dept. of Agriculture held a public hearing Tuesday to hear testimony on their proposed rules that would restrict not only rBGH-free labeling, but any labeling AND advertising dealing with the composition of ANY food. Patty Lovera of Food and Water Watch and I were both in Salt Lake to testify against the rules, along with about a dozen others, many representing rBGH-free dairies and national trade association representatives. There were about four people supporting the rules, including Monsanto's lawyer and the Farm Bureau.

The Dept. of Ag will receive comments until Monday, re-write the rules, and then put out the revised draft and take comments for another 30 days.

Ohio: Ohio issued rules allowing only production-related type of labels and requiring the FDA disclaimer that there's no significant difference between rBGH and rBGH-free milk to be contiguous and the same size as the label. There is one final hearing coming up March 12. We're gearing up to oppose these rules now.

Indiana: So far, the bill banning any kind of rBGH-free labeling has been stopped. However, the language could appear in another bill, so we're monitoring the situation carefully. The session ends in mid-March.

Missouri: You really didn't think we'd get out of this without Monsanto launching a bill in their own backyard, did you? HB 2283, introduced yesterday, would ban any kind of rBGH-free labeling.

Monsanto's insidious strategy is a real threat. If they can get any state to ban rBGH-free labeling, a national company like Ben & Jerry's or Stonyfield would either have to have separate labels for those states (unlikely) or change all their labeling to not include information on rBGH. In this way, consumers would have no way to know which dairy brands are rBGH-free. Even if they just get restrictions short of a total ban, a company would have to go with the lowest common denominator of a state to comply.

What you can do: Please e-mail me as soon as possible any contacts you have in Missouri that you think might be willing to help oppose this bill. THANK YOU!

Rick

Rick North, Project Director ­ Campaign For Safe Food Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility 503-968-1520 hrnorth@hevanet.com www.oregonpsr.org