**CALIFORNIANS**PAN ALERT: Support AB 541 -- Regulate genetically engineered crops

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Mary,

 

California has no policies regulating genetically engineered (GE) crops, and the

federal government is failing in its oversight role. Without control of GE

crops, farmers are at risk for contamination of their crops, a particular threat

for organic farmers. AB 541 will put in place a coherent policy that addresses

the risk of GE contamination.

 

Take Action Now ! Fax Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, Chair of the Assembly

Agriculture Committee to support AB 541, the Food and Farm Protection Act (click

below and we'll send your fax; write and mail your own letter for greater

impact).

 

Background: Given regulatory void in state and federal policy, eight California

counties attempted to pass local restrictions on GE crops, and four of these now

have county bans or moratoria on GE crop production. AB 541 will put in place a

coherent policy that addresses the risk of GE contamination.

 

In the 2005/06 legislative session, biotechnology and agribusiness interests

sponsored a bill that would have pre-empted local authority over GE crops. This

legislation failed due to a groundswell of opposition from grassroots

organizations, citizens, and elected officials around the state. Assemblymember

Jared Huffman (6th AD) has introduced AB 541, The Food and Farm Protection Act.

The bill would protect California farmers, consumers, and the food supply. AB

541 already has the support of many agricultural, environmental, health, faith

and business organizations.

 

AB 541 protects California farmers and the food supply in four ways:

 

 

Establishes the right of farmers and landowners to compensation for economic

losses due to genetic contamination of their crops;

Protects farmers from being sued by a GE manufacturer if their crop is

contaminated by that company's GE product;

Establishes a county-level GE crop notification process so that farmers can

trace contamination to the GE manufacturer; and

Protects the food supply by prohibiting the open-field cultivation of

genetically engineered food crops used to produce drugs and biologics such as

hormones and antibiotics.

Resources

 

 

Read full text of bill and get more info, at http://www.gepolicyalliance.org

 

 

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