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BIO Applauds USDA Progress in Implementing Voluntary Labeling for Biobased Products

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, September 30, 2009) - The proposed “USDA Certified Biobased Product” voluntary labeling program can help to open markets to low-carbon biobased products. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today released official comments hailing progress toward implementation of the USDA’s proposed Voluntary Labeling Program for Biobased Products.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, stated, “By helping consumers identify greener biobased products made with biotechnology, the USDA’s proposed voluntary labeling program can spur development of new low-carbon goods and materials made from renewable resources. The “USDA Certified Biobased Product” label should assure consumers that they are buying something that contains a significant proportion of renewable materials or is made from cleaner biobased ingredients.

“Biobased products satisfy growing consumer demand for more earth friendly products because they meet the most important environmental goals, including reducing use of petroleum and other non-renewable resources and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

“The USDA’s BioPreferred program identifies as many as 2400 new products from 562 companies as biobased products eligible for preferred purchasing. We applaud the recent efforts by the USDA to move the BioPreferred initiatives forward. In order to maintain the momentum, we urge a continued, concerted effort by the USDA and other federal entities to make the great potential of this program a reality.”Upcoming BIO Events

BIO Investor Forum
October 28-29, 2009
San Francisco, CA

Advanced Business Development Course
October 30, 2009
Vienna, Austria

BIO Europe International Partnering Conference
November 2-4, 2009
Vienna, Austria

Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
November 8-11, 2009
Honolulu, HI 

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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