2017 -- H 5275

========

LC000653

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Lima, Canario, Price, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2017

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 21 of the General Laws entitled "FOOD AND DRUGS" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 38

SALE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS NOTICE

     21-38-1. Sale of genetically modified organisms.

     (a) Any retail business which sells food and food-related items as defined by §44-18-

7.1(l), which has gross annual sales of over five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall post a

sign in a prominent location in all of its stores which states that: "Unless otherwise clearly

indicated, all of our food products contain genetically modified organisms."

     (b) The sign requirement as set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to

restaurants, take-out or fast-food establishments.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC000653

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

***

     This act would require all businesses that sell food which have gross annual sales of over

five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), with the exception of restaurants, to post signs that

inform their customers that all the food products that are offered for sale contain genetically

modified organisms unless clearly indicated otherwise.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC000653

========

LC000653 - Page 2 of 2