We’re pleased that a majority of the Citizens’ Initiative Review panelists, after carefully studying Measure 92, agreed with us that this initiative deserves a NO vote. We believe a majority of Oregon voters will reach the same conclusion, once they have looked at the facts, and vote NO on 92 as well.

A randomly selected group of 20 Oregon voters from across the state spent several days, listening to experts on both sides of the issue, hearing directly from proponents and opponents of Measure 92, as well as a number of policy experts.

In the end, the panel voted against the measure, with eleven of the 20 panelists opposing Measure 92. They concluded that the measure won’t provide reliable information to consumers about which foods contain GMO ingredients and which don’t – and that it wouldn’t provide any information about which ingredients are made with genetic engineering or how much GMO content is in the product, if any. In fact, it’s so poorly written that many products would be labeled “genetically engineered” even if they have no GE content at all.

Panelists also expressed concern about costs. “The costs of actual labeling are a tiny fraction of the costs of compliance and certification,” the panel concluded.

More information about the findings and conclusions of the Citizens’ Initiative Review panel on Measure 92 are available here – healthydemocracy.org/citizens-initiative-review/oregon/measure-92-final.

The NO on represents thousands of Oregon farmers, taxpayers, businesses and consumers who oppose Measure 92. Measure 92’s flawed and costly labeling system, which would only exist in Oregon, would not give consumers reliable information about which foods actually contain GMO ingredients and which do not. But it would hurt thousands of Oregon family farmers and small store owners, cost taxpayers millions for new bureaucratic red tape, and increase grocery bills for Oregon families by hundreds of dollars a year.