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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ,Y Oi ,YIyn 4W{~ <br /> <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> RESOLUTION NO. 220 09 <br /> A RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE <br /> LABELING OF ALL FOOD PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE <br /> BEEN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED OR CONTAIN INGREDIENTS THAT HAVE <br /> BEEN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED. <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service, 92 percent of <br /> soybean acreage and 63 percent of corn acreage were genetically engineered in 2008; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, according to the Center for Food Safety, an estimated 70-75 percent of <br /> processed foods on supermarket shelves contain genetically engineered ingredients; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, scientific studies over the past decade have revealed that genetically <br /> engineered foods can be harmful to humans, domesticated animals, wildlife, and the <br /> environment; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, despite the risks, the United States government continues to allow <br /> American citizens to unknowingly consume genetically engineered foods; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, Consumer International was founded in 1960, and with over 220 member <br /> organizations in 115 countries, it is the world federation of consumer groups that serves as the <br /> only independent and authoritative global voice for consumers; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, according to Consumer International, there are more than 40 countries that <br /> already have mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, accounting for roughly one- <br /> third of the world's population, which includes Australia, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Hong <br /> Kong, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, and the European <br /> Union (consists of 27 member states); and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, Senate Bill 25, which was unanimously approved in 2005 by Alaska's <br /> House and Senate and signed into law by Governor Frank Murkowski as Chapter 26 SLA 05, <br /> requires all genetically engineered fish and shell fish to be conspicuously labeled, whether <br /> packaged or unpackaged; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, Chapter 26 SLA 05 is the first labeling law in the United States for <br /> genetically engineered foods; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, in 2002, Oregon added Measure 27 to the state's ballot that would have <br /> required labeling of genetically engineered foods, but the measure was defeated; however, it <br /> should be noted that a coalition of corporate giants spent $5.5 million to campaign against the <br /> measure; and <br />