The USDA released its Bioengineered Food Disclosure Final Rule for the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, which provides food companies guidance about how to label products made with genetically modified ingredients. The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law of 2016 requires food manufacturers, importers, and certain retailers to disclose bioengineered foods.
The standard defines bioengineered foods as those containing detectable genetic material that’s been modified through lab techniques and can’t be created through conventional breeding or found in nature. This labeling mandate began Jan. 1, 2020, while smaller companies have until Jan. 1, 2021. Enforcement begins Jan. 1, 2022.
Anyone responsible for food labeling and regulatory compliance who needs to understand how the new labeling requirements for bioengineered foods and ingredients will affect their products – and ingredients – will benefit this update.
Join AIB International’s Food Labeling Services Manager, Elaine Meloan, features real-world examples for this bioengineered food labeling training. Meloan is responsible for services related to U.S. and Canadian food labeling. She provides oversight for a team of food scientists to develop and review labeling information for clients.
Differentiate between the effective date, implementation date, and compliance dates.
Identify which foods are subject to disclosure and define bioengineered food to recognize which don’t meet the definition.
Recognize the foods on the bioengineered foods list and explain how the list is used.
Identify and explain various exemptions from the bioengineered food disclosure.
Identify who is responsible for the disclosure and where the disclosure must be located.