Recent decision in challenge to Vermont GM labeling law being appealed.

  • As previously covered in this blog, the food industry has been paying close attention to developments in the lawsuit brought by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and other trade associations to challenge Vermont’s labeling mandate for Genetically Modified (GM) food products.  On April 27, 2015, the Vermont district court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, dismissed specific counts in the challenge, and permitted the law to stand for the time being.
  • On May 6, 2015, GMA filed a notice of appeal and announced its intent to file the actual appeal documents in the coming weeks.
  • The filing of this appeal will renew the industry’s hopes that the judiciary could stay (whether temporarily or permanently) the implementation of the Vermont law, which currently is set to take effect on July 1, 2016.