US House biotech proposal would bypass courts-critic
Reuters, June 5 2012
http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL1E8H5L6N20120605
* Provision would muzzle judges, says biotech critic
* Court cases on GMO crops can run for years
* USDA proposes deregulation of GMO sugar beets
WASHINGTON - A provision in a U.S. House bill would allow farmers to grow
genetically modified crops while court battles are under way to decide if the
plants are safe, said a biotech skeptic on Tuesday, calling the idea an
unprecedented muzzle on federal judges.
The one-paragraph provision, buried in a funding bill for the Agriculture
Department, obliges USDA to approve cultivation of a biotech crop while USDA
completes "any required analyses or consultations" to decide if the crop is safe
to plant.
"We can't find a single legislative precedent to this," said Andrew Kimbrell, of
the Center for Food Safety, which frequently sues the government over its
approval of biotech crops.
Kimbrell said the provision would prevent judges from issuing injunctions
against cultivation while courts decide if a crop poses a risk.
A House Appropriations Committee spokeswoman said the panel does not identify
sponsors of legislative riders at this stage of consideration. A subcommittee
vote on the bill was expected on Wednesday. The Biotechnology Industry
Organization, a trade group, said it did not seek the language.
USDA approval of biotech crops has faced legal challenges in a handful of
high-profile cases, some involving crops developed by Monsanto Co. A biotech
alfalfa variety from Monsanto went through five years of regulatory and legal
contests, including a Supreme Court decision.
In 2009, a federal judge revoked USDA's 2005 approval of genetically modified
sugar beets by Monsanto but USDA allowed planting of the crop in 2011 under
restrictions.
On June 1, USDA proposed deregulation of the Monsanto Roundup Ready sugar beets.
Deregulation would approve the beets for planting. The proposal was part of two
assessments required by a federal court on whether the beets pose a risk to the
environment. USDA said it will accept comments on the assessments for at least
30 days before making a final decision.
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