Wichita Food Co-op local growers of organic produce and livestock

Senate Ag Committee Holds Hearing on Labeling of Ag Products

Over the past two days, the Kansas Senate Agriculture Committee has held a hearing regarding labeling requirements of agricultural goods. The proposed bill would make it unlawful to label any agricultural product as having a compositional claim that cannot be confirmed through laboratory analysis. Multiple organizations and producers, including Donn Teske President of Kansas Farmers Union and KCA member Norm Oeding, testified opposing this bill.

Oeding's testimony stated, "From the Land of Kansas" is a trademark program I participate in, administered by the Kansas Dept. of Commerce. This program is all about value-added producers and the jobs that are supported by small farms and niche producers. "Land of Kansas" products typically carry many claims that are able to be proven in any court of law. Nearly all claims I make about my product s can be proven and validated in any court in the land but would be unconfirmed by a lab."

Oeding and others have stated that some products do not have tests available to prove that they are free from synthetic additives. The committee hearing concluded with the opponents testimonies of proposed bill SB 595. No action has yet been taken by the committee.

KCA will be in Topeka next week during the agriculture hearing to follow the status of this bill, and we will inform members as to action taken. If you would like to see the full text of the bill, you can go online to www.kslegislature.org.

home I about I join I contact us I resources I members only