California Passes Strong Anti-GE Law

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California Passes Strong Anti-GE Law

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_14908.cfm

* CALIFORNIA'S FIRST PROTECTIONS FOR FARMERS FROM THREATS OF GENETIC

ENGINEERING BECOME LAW

By GE Policy Project

9/29/08

Straight to the Source

 

 

Monsanto's intimidation tactics no longer legal Sept. 29, 2008 - A landmark

piece of legislation protecting California's farmers from liability was signed

by Governor Schwarzenegger on Sept. 27, 2008. The bill, AB 541 (Huffman,

D-Marin/Sonoma), was sponsored by a coalition of agriculture organizations and

food businesses, and it is the first bill passed by the California legislature

that brings much-needed regulation to genetically engineered (GE) crops.  

 

AB 541 indemnifies California farmers who have not been able to prevent the

inevitable - the drift of GE pollen or seed onto their land and the subsequent

contamination of non-GE crops. Currently, farmers with crops that become

contaminated by patented seeds or pollen have been the target of harassing

lawsuits brought by biotech patent holders, most notoriously Monsanto. Further,

if their contaminated crops cause harm to other farmers, the environment or

consumers, they have not been protected from that liability. AB 541 provides

protections for farmers from such liability. The bill also establishes a

mandatory crop sampling protocol to level the playing field when biotech

companies investigate alleged patent or contract violations.

 

AB 541 was sponsored by a thirteen-member coalition including Community Alliance

with Family Farmers, Earthbound Farm, California Certified Organic Farmers, and

United Natural Foods Inc. It also had the support of the California Farm Bureau

Federation which has traditionally opposed any restrictions or regulations for

GE crops.

 

" AB 541 provides much needed protection for farmers who typically lack the

resources to fight lawsuits brought by biotech conglomerates, " stated Renata

Brillinger, director of the Genetic Engineering Policy Project, the coalition

sponsoring AB 541. " This is a good first step towards establishing that Monsanto

- not farmers - is legally responsible for the economic, environmental and

health harms caused by their patented and uncontrollable products. "

 

Contact: Renata Brillinger, (707) 874-0316, info