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Vermont Calls More GMO Hearings, Extends Comment Deadline

Vermont Right to Know GMO logo
Vermont Right to Know Coalition

The Vermont Attorney General's office is calling a second public hearing on the state's rules to implement the ban on genetically modified organisms.

In addition to the second hearing scheduled for Feb. 4 at the Vermont Statehouse, the state has extended by two weeks the deadline for submitting written comments on the proposed rules.

Attorney General Bill Sorrell says officials were worried interested parties wouldn't be able to get their comments in due to some confusion.  “We wanted more participation rather than less. So once we heard that there was some concern, we were happy to extend the written comment period for a bit and to have another public hearing.”

The new deadline for written comments is Feb. 12.

Last year the Vermont Legislature passed the nation's first law to require the labeling of food made with GMOs.

A number of groups have filed suit to block the law, due to take effect in the summer of 2016.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

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