GMO Labeling Campaign to Begin Gathering Signatures after Oregon Supreme Court Ruling

Supporters of an initiative that would require the labeling of genetically engineered foods will soon be able to gather signatures after the Oregon Supreme Court certified a ballot title Thursday.

May 8, 2014 | Source: Oregon Live | by Yuxing Zheng

For related articles and information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page, and our Millions Against Monsanto page.

Supporters of an initiative that would require the labeling of genetically engineered foods will soon be able to gather signatures after the Oregon Supreme Court certified a ballot title Thursday.

The court corrected a minor scrivener’s error in the description of the result of a Yes vote. The court left intact the Oregon attorney general’s title: “Requires food manufacturers, retailers to label ‘genetically engineered’ foods as such; state, citizens may enforce.”

Thursday’s decision means that Oregon Right to Know, the campaign supporting the initiative effort, will be able to hit the streets soon with signature gatherers. The campaign, however, first has to jump through several administrative hoops before the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office approves petition sheets for circulation.

The campaign has until July 3 to submit 87,213 valid signatures to qualify the initiative for the November ballot. In a press release, Oregon Right to Know said it would make a “major announcement about the campaign next week.”

The press release also described the court ruling as “a huge win for families across Oregon.”

“We want to make informed choices about what we feed our families,” the press release said. “That includes knowing whether or not that food contains genetically modified organisms.”