Regulations

As our study has shifted to analyzing the patents and politics involved in the agricultural industry, further research has been conducted to find out more about the specific regulations and laws in place for GMO crops.

As Patents Expire, Farmers Plant Generic GMOs

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/539746/as-patents-expire-farmers-plant-generic-gmos/

Large companies like Monsanto control much of the agricultural industry. This includes more than 90 percent of GM soybean seeds grown in the U.S. Monsanto is able to maintain this control with patents on their GMO designs, however, patents do have an expendable life span. As these patents expire, farmers are able to sell their products as generic GMOs, introducing some competition to the industry. Not phased, Monsanto revealed that the company had already developed new strains of GMOs that are better and still under the protection of patents.

Organic Certification Process

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/faq-becoming-certified

Organic Certification by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows the producers to sell and advertise using the word organic. This ensures that these products meet the United States standards and do not tarnish or deceive its customers. In order for facilities to become recognized to have organic certification multiple steps need to follow.

The first step is to ensure that the farm meets and has met the guidelines for the past three years since it is a lengthy process and can cost a significant amount of money.  When applying you must create an organic system plant which explains describe how one operates in the facility that wishes to receive the certification and the history of what was used on the land in the past three years. You must also pay the application fees which depends on the size of the facility and the intricacy of the operation taking place. A third factor is what is being certified, since crops, livestock, processed products and wild crops can all get certified. Once the application is sent with all the necessary materials, the agent revises the application to make sure it meets the standards placed. Then the person applying must pay an inspector to visit the facility and write a report based on their findings. Once the inspector has completed this, the agent will review the inspector’s writings and application to ultimately decide whether the facility will receive its certification. If approved, the agent gives it to them and then every year the certification must be renewed.

When renewing the certification, you must pay an annual renewal fee as well as an assessment of annual sales fee. With these costs you must also include an update report on how the facility has been running for the past year. After this the facility must once again pay for an inspector to come and look through the facility and write a report which is then sent to the agent. The agent then reviews all the information and if the facility meets the standards, it reissues the certification. 

This can sound very expensive since there are many fees involved for which you have to pay most of them every year. The total amount of these fees varies but it can range from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars; however, facilities can get up to 75% of them reimbursed through USDA Organic Certification Cost-Share Programs.

This certification process can be done almost anywhere in the world as there are almost 80 different agents found around the world who will accept these applications. If the facility is in California, there is an additional process that must be followed in order to receive organic certification.  The certification process in California is similar to the federal one. All this allows producers, handlers and processors to use proper labeling in their products.

Labeling of GMO Products

Below is a map of the United States depicting the states in which legislation for GMO product labeling requirements has been passed, proposed, or neither. This information is from the Center for Food Safety Website. 

http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=14210

GMO State Labeling Legislation Map

It can be noted from this map that the majority of the United States has yet to pass legislation on GMO labels. People have the right to know what products they are buying. More regulations on labeling need to established to reform the agricultural industry.