On December 21, 2018, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Doc. No. AMS–TM–17–0050] that establishes the new national mandatory bioengineered (BE) food disclosure standard (NBFDS or Standard). The new Standard requires food manufacturers, importers, and other entities that label foods for retail sale to disclose information about BE food and BE food ingredients. The rule is intended to provide a mandatory uniform national standard for disclosure of information to consumers about the BE status of foods. Establishment and implementation of the new Standard is required by an amendment to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.
The rule becomes effective February 19, 2019. The implementation date is January 1, 2020. The extended implementation date for small food manufacturers is January 1, 2021. The voluntary compliance date ends on December 31, 2021. The mandatory compliance date is January 1, 2022.
