The United Soybean Board recognizes that the future of agricultural biotechnology depends upon the understanding and acceptance of consumers. As such, we advocate the responsible development of plant biotechnology in a way that provides long- term benefits to consumers, producers, and the environment.

USB is committed to fostering active, open communication among consumers, producers, industry leaders, researchers, and the regulatory community in order to insure marketing opportunities for all U.S. produced soybeans and soybean products.

Issues In Agricultural Biotechnology

Safety
Regulatory agencies, including the FDA, EPA and USDA, have declared that approved crop varieties derived from biotechnology are safe, after completing rigorous reviews of scientific testing. The most common varieties of biotech soybeans, for example, have undergone more extensive safety and compositional testing than any crop in history. More than 1,800 scientific evaluations in the United States-including tests for allergenicity and environmental safety-have come to the same conclusion: commercially available soybeans produced through agricultural biotechnology are safe for consumers and for the environment. They are just as nutritious and safe as any other commercially available variety.

The United Soybean Board believes that crops and products enhanced by agricultural biotechnology are safe to grow and safe to eat, as confirmed by FDA following their thorough reviews of rigorous, scientific testing.

Labeling
FDA's current guidelines state that food made from new crops-whether those crops are developed through traditional breeding methods or agricultural biotechnology-must be specially labeled if the new crops differ in composition, nutritional profile, or safety. If a food contains a serious allergen, for example, it must be labeled so consumers will know what they are eating. If the new crops are declared equivalent in composition, nutritional profile, and safety, FDA maintains that special labeling of the foods produced with these crops would be misleading and, therefore, inappropriate. Thanks to these regulatory and labeling practices, American consumers enjoy one of the safest food supplies in the world.

The United Soybean Board supports a policy based upon good public health practices and sound science, which will provide consumers with clear and meaningful information about the foods they eat. The current FDA labeling guidelines are exemplary in that regard. If anyone proposes to change these labeling requirements, we would encourage that the proposed changes adhere to the same standard.

The current FDA labeling guidelines are endorsed by the EPA, USDA, food companies, soybean producers, and food processors. We maintain open lines of communication with all of these groups and work with industry partners to share vital information about biotechnology, labeling, agriculture, and soybeans in general.

If you have any questions about USB's position on agricultural biotechnology, please contact Lisa Kelly at 206-270-4636 or Lisa.Kelly@publicis-pr.com.