We Haven’t Seen The End Of GMO Labelling Campaign

Jan 25, 2013

Failed California ‘Right to Know’ Campaign Says It Will Be Back In 2014

The California ‘Right to Know’ campaign, which was unsuccessful in its ballot initiative (Prob. 37) for labelling genetically engineered foods in November 2012, says that they will be back in 2014.

The campaign sent out an email to its supporters saying that they believe that their initiative failed because their opponents were able to raise more funds against their campaign, by a margin of 6-to-1.

In addition to outlining their intentions to come back in 2014, the steering committee also said that it will be heavily involved in Washington State’s new GMO proposal, along as having a watchful eye in other state legislative proposals.

Other state legislatures which have similar bills as the failed California initiative include New Mexico and Missouri. It’s also expected that Vermont and Connecticut will have similar bills introduced in the near future.

The California (Prob. 37) vote failed, but managed to secure 48.6% of the vote

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.