New bill could make biotech companies immune to federal courts
New bill could make biotech companies immune to federal courts
By Anne Sewell
Jul 11, 2012 -
An amendment to the Agricultural Appropriations Bill would not just allow, but would require the Secretary of Agriculture to grant permits for planting of GM crops, even if a federal court has given an injunction against it.
In a move that would allow Monsanto and other biotech companies to do whatever they want, if this amendment is passed issues like damage to farmers or consumers, court orders, crop contamination or U.S. Department of Agriculture studies will all fall by the wayside.
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Calling it the "Monsanto Protection Act", Food Democracy Now says it would strip judges of their constitutional mandate to protect consumer rights and the environment. In the meanwhile it would also "open the floodgates" for the planting of new untested genetically engineered crops, which would endanger farmers, consumers and also the environment.
Representative Peter DeFazio, who is a supporter of labeling of GMO products, has been attempting to push through an amendment which would kill this dangerous rider. With the support of organizations like Organic Consumers Associations, Center for Food Safety and others, their warnings are circulating on the Internet, gathering attention and support, but people are asking if this be enough to do the job.
The Center for Food Safety claimed in a recent statement that, "Ceding broad and unprecedented powers to industry, the rider poses a direct threat to the authority of U.S. courts, jettisons the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) established oversight powers on key agriculture issues and puts the nation's farmers and food supply at risk."
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Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/article/328317#ixzz20NZhEKN9
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