C7C-Urge Regulations Disclosure Of All Genetically Engineered Food Products -Stg t/iA,iv/^,iBrACH
City of Miomi Beoch, I /00 Convention Cenler Drive, Miomi Beoch, Florido 33 139. ww'w.miomibeochfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor Philip Levine and Members of the City Commission
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
FROM: Raul Aguila, City Attorn ey W8-
DATE: October 22,2014
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RELATING TO URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE
AND THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO ENACT
REGULATIONS REQUIRING THE DISCLOSURE AND MANDATORY LABELING
OF ALL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD PRODUCTS; AND lN THE INTERIM,
URGE THE COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION,
MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION CROPS OR FOOD PRODUCTS TO
VOLUNTARILY LABEL THE CROPS AND FOOD PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED.
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Micky Steinberg, a resolution was prepared urging the
state legislature and the federal Food and Drug Administration to enact regulations requiring the
disclosure and mandatory labeling of all genetically engineered food products; and in the
interim, urge the companies that provide for the distribution, manufacturing and production of
genetically engineered crops or food products to voluntarily label the crops and food products
that have been genetically engineered.
The Mayor and Commission are concerned with the quality of life of the residents of Miami
Beach and understand that there may be long{erm health risks to the general public and the
environment due to genetically engineered foods. The ramifications of genetic engineering of
our food are unknown, and as such the public should have the knowledge and ability to decide
whether to consume such genetically engineered foods. Genetically engineered crops are
engineered by transferring genetic material from one organism into another to create specific
traits, such as making a plant resistant to treatment with herbicides, or enabling a plant to
produce its own pesticide to repel insects. The genetic altering can lead to unintended
consequences to the environment, and to our health.
Knowing what is in our food is incredibly important.
Conclusion
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the attached
Resolution, which urges the state legislature and the federal Food and Drug Administration to
enact regulations requiring the disclosure and mandatory labeling of all genetically engineered
food products; and in the interim, urge the companies that provide for the distribution,
manufacturing and production of genetically engineered crops or food products to voluntarily
label the crops and food products that have been genetically engineered.
Agenda ltem C7 C
Date l0-22-lV70
g MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jimmy Morales, City Manager
FROM: MickySteinberg,Commissioner
DATE: October 15,2014
SUBJECT: Agenda item for the October 22,2014 Commission Meeting
Please add to the October 22,2014 Commission Agenda a Resolution regarding genetically
engineered food items, urging the State Legislature and the Federal Food and Drug
Administration to enact regulations requiring the disclosure and mandatory labeling of all
genetically engineered food products. Please see the attached.
lf you have any questions please do not hesitate to call our office.
Thank you.
Tathiane Trofino
On behalf of Commissioner Micky Steinberg
MIAMIBEACH
Com m i ssion er M icky Stei n berg
OFFICE OF MAYOR AND COMMISSION
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Tel: 305-673-7 103 I Fax: 305-673-7096 / www.miamibeachfl .qov
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic
community.
We ore commiffed to providing excellent public service ond sofefy to oll who live, work, ond ploy in our vibront, tropicol, historic communify'
71
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RELATING TO URGING THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
TO ENACT REGULATIONS REQUIRING THE DISCLOSURE AND
MANDATORY LABELING OF ALL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD
PRODUCTS; AND IN THE INTERIM, URGE THE COMPANIES THAT
PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURING AND
PRODUCTION CROPS OR FOOD PRODUCTS TO VOLUNTARILY LABEL
THE CROPS AND FOOD PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach, a World-Class City values progress, innovation
and technology and recognizes that consumers desire to have accurate and thorough
information about the food they feed their families at their fingertips; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Commission are concerned with the quality of life of the
residents of Miami Beach and understand that there may be long-term health risks to the
general public and the environment due to genetically engineered foods; and,
WHEREAS, the ramifications of genetic engineering of our food are unknown, and as
such the public should have the knowledge and ability to decide whether to consume such
genetically engineered foods; and
WHEREAS, genetically engineered crops are engineered by transferring genetic
material from one organism into another to create specific traits, such as making a plant
resistant to treatment with herbicides, or enabling a plant to produce its own pesticide to repel
insects; and
WHEREAS, genetically engineered corn and soybeans are the building blocks of the
industrialized food supply, ending up in products ranging from livestock feed to hydrogenated
vegetable oils to high-fructose corn syrup; and
WHEREAS, a 2009 lnternational Journal of Biological Sciences study found that rats
that consume genetically engineered corn for 90 days developed a deterioration of liver and
kidney functioning; and
WHEREAS, certain genetically engineered foods altered to produce their own pesticide
have enabled the creation of weeds resistant to the "pesticide", thus requiring farms to use
additional toxic pesticides while growing crops; and,
WHEREAS, the labeling of food and food products to correctly reflect whether the foods
are genetically engineered is a "right-to-know" issue; and
WHEREAS, there are over 64 countries that enforce labeling laws for genetically
engineered food; and
72
WHEREAS, a 2012 poll reflected that 91 percent of persons polled favor having the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require labels of genetically engineered foods or foods
containing genetically engineered ingredients; and of those polled, 81 percent strongly favored
the labeling proposal; and
WHEREAS, a 2013 New Your Times poll found that 93 percent of U.S. consumers want
all genetically engineered ingredients to be labeled; and
WHEREAS, as of June 2014, more than 60 bills have been introduced in over 20 states
in the United States to require genetic engineering labeling; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission urge the state legislature and the federal
Food and Drug Administration to enact regulations requiring the disclosure and mandatory
labeling of all genetically engineered food products; and in the interim, urge the companies that
provide for the distribution, manufacturing and production of genetically engineered crops or
food products to voluntarily label the crops and food products that have been genetically
engineered.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, urge the state legislature and the
federal Food and Drug Administration to enact regulations requiring the disclosure and
mandatory labeling of all genetically engineered food products; and in the interim, urge the
companies that provide for the distribution, manufacturing and production of genetically
engineered crops or food products to voluntarily label the crops and food products that have
been genetically engineered.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _ day of
ATTEST:
2014.
Philip Levine, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
,6[R[8ER8ilB'
& FOR EXECUIION
,454
Doie
73