An act that would create uniform GMO labeling throughout the United States passed the U.S. House on Thursday according to The Washington Times report. The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, H.R. 1599, was voted 275 in favor to 150 opposed. The act’s uniform labeling would be opposed to each state creating their own laws regarding crops that cross over state lines from farms to various markets. (The Washington Times report here).

Grundy County in Farm Bureau Manager Tasha Bunting in Illinois voiced her approval by saying, “Being voluntary will create a consumer choice,” and added, “Consumers can purchase what they are comfortable with for their family.” Like organic farmers and the correlated organic labeling, traditional farmers will also have the chance to sell their foods in niche markets.

IFB President Richard Guebert added in a statement, “The bill will help to bring greater clarity to food labeling for American consumers by removing the current patchwork system of wide-ranging and diverse state labels on foods.” He also said that the bill would prohibit additional mandatory state-based GMO labeling and would clarify what “natural” defines.

Although the bill is not yet law, the Senate received it and read it twice before referring it to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. If enacted, it will arrange a USDA certification process and specialized label for companies that decide to list their ingredients.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association said in a statement that if the bill passed legislation would develop a labeling structure based off of the biochemistry of GMOs while inhibiting unnecessary costs related to additional state labeling mandates. Mark Denzler, vice president and chief operating officer of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association said in a release that “We believe that any labeling requirements should come from the FDA so that every company is operating under the same guidelines.”