USDA developing GMO-free verification scheme

The US Department of Agriculture is developing a non-GMO certification and labelling scheme under its Process Verified Program.

According to a memo from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the Agricultural Marketing Service was approached by a "leading global company" who asked the AMS to verify corn and soya bean crops it uses are GMO-free so the unnamed company can label them as such. The company has since been identified by the New York Times as Toronto-based SunOpta.

Vilsack noted: "When a producer or industry stakeholder has a standard they want to consistently meet, AMS works with them to develop an auditing solution to verify that claim. Through the Process Verified Program, AMS assures consumers that marketing claims made by food companies have been verified by an independent third-party. These voluntary tools allow businesses to differentiate themselves from their competition."

The verification will be announced soon, with further verifications to follow, the Secretary revealed. "While the Process Verified Program itself is not a new program, this is the first non- GMO/GE claim verified through USDA. It will be announced soon, and other companies are already lining up to take advantage of this service."