Missouri Rep. Holly Jones (R-Eureka) introduced a bill in her state, HB 1169, that aimed to require certain product disclosures for products with potential gene therapy properties or those that could expose individuals to genetically modified material.
“I think that this bill is something that we’re going to see a whole lot more of. Five states have reached out to me wanting to work with Missouri,” Rep. Jones recently commented on her legislation. “They see us as the forefront of this. I think that’s a good thing.”
However, the bill failed to pass on Wednesday.
The bill defined a gene therapy product as “any product with any capacity to alter, interfere with, or otherwise act in any manner similar or equivalent to genes.”
According to the legislation, any product that has the potential to act as a gene therapy or could impact, alter, or introduce genetic material should be conspicuously labeled with the words “Potential Gene Therapy Product.”
The bill states that “reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure the potential purchaser or user of the product is made aware of the presence of this label.”
If a product is known to be a gene therapy product, it must be labeled with the words “Gene Therapy Product.”
Another section of the bill focuses on the disclosure requirements for entities producing, selling, or distributing products that can infect an individual with a disease or expose them to genetically modified material.
This includes products that have been manipulated using vaccines, gene therapies, drugs, and medical interventions.
Upon written request from a resident of Missouri, these entities would have had to provide all relevant information related to how individuals who did not directly obtain or use the product may be exposed to the product or its components.
The entities would have been required to provide this information within 21 days of receiving the written request.
Lastly, Section 196.1410 states that any entity offering a product in Missouri that could act as a medical intervention, vaccine, drug, or genetic modification must obtain fully informed consent from all individuals who could be exposed to the product.
“Any entity that makes a product available in this state that could infect, transmit to, or be absorbed in any individual in any way that would act as a medical intervention, vaccine, drug, or genetic modification shall obtain fully informed consent from all individuals who could be exposed to such product before exposure could occur,” the bill reads.
“Fully informed consent requires, at a minimum, that an individual is made aware of all benefits and risks, including side effects, of the product, any adverse events of special interest, and any other reasonably possible impacts of the product.”
Meanwhile, Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner Sid Miller has issued a statement promising to conduct a risk assessment of the use of mRNA vaccines in cattle.
“Since news of the development of mRNA vaccines and mRNA-related treatments for livestock came to the attention of the Texas Department of Agriculture, we have been working towards developing a fact and science-based assessment of the risks associated with this technology,” Miller said.
“Our analysis will include the clinical research, the structure of existing Texas law, and the public policy, economic, and production impact of the different policy prescriptions we may adopt. I aim to ensure that Texas agriculture remains safe, trusted, healthy, and wholly uninfected by dangerous or unproven technology.”
Miller added, “I personally take this issue very seriously. No political hot takes. Just a well-reasoned and well-researched proposal based on a wide range of input from stakeholders, scientists, agriculturalists, and other experts. We are looking at this issue at TDA and will share your concerns. Please stay tuned.”
Read the failed bill below:
