The Vermont law mandating the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) becomes effective today. The law, which originally passed back in 2014 and has since survived a number of legal and political challenges, requires that any food product that contains at least 75% bioengineered content have a label specifying that the product is…
There are two dates every year when we have to be especially conscious of changes in government laws and/or regulations – one is January 1 and the other is today, July 1, the start of many government fiscal years. With so much new regulation being piled on to the business community, we thought it might…
They haven’t focused on sugary drinks yet, but Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed ban the box legislation into law at the beginning of this month. Signing HB5237 into law makes the Nutmeg State the 19th state to restrict employers’ inquiries into an employment applicant’s criminal history and the 2nd to do so this year (Vermont…
In a little over one month, Vermont will become the first state in the nation actually requiring the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMO). The Vermont mandate was signed into law just over 2 years ago and immediately challenged by the Grocery Manufacturers Association along with the Snack Food Association, International Dairy Foods…
GMO labeling is set to become effective in the state of Vermont this July 1 and as a result, Congress is moving much more quickly than usual in order to forestall a patchwork of state laws and regulations over genetically modified organisms (GMO). This week, the US Senate began debating a federal voluntary labeling bill…
The dictates on small business continue and the paid sick leave benefit has now been mandated by a fifth state as Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed paid sick leave into law this week in the Green Mountain State. Under House 187, which cleared the legislature late last month and was signed into law Wednesday, all…
When as expected, Vermont Governor Pete Shumlin signs the bill passed by the legislature last week, Vermont will become the fifth state to pick up the mantle of mandating private employers provide paid sick leave to their employees. The legislation provides that beginning next January 1, employers in the Green Mountain state must give employees…
Speaking of Vermont, the state was the first to mandate special labeling of foodstuffs containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) back in 2014 when Governor Shumlin signed the labeling legislation into law. Since that time, the law has been challenged by the Grocers Manufacturers Association in a lawsuit that is still pending (the court rejected the…
You’ve only got a few days left to register for the Northeast Regional DDIFO meeting next Tuesday at the Framingham Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center. The program will feature veteran Boston news anchor Maria Stephanos speaking on the media perspective and how it responds to small business issues. We will also feature Kevin Scott, ServSafe®…
Although (thankfully) their legislative session has ended for this year, the state of Vermont is already angling to pass a sick leave mandate onto private employers during the 2016 session. That objective was announced by lame duck Governor Peter Shumlin along with current Speaker of the House and 2016 gubernatorial candidate Shap Smith at a…