Second US judge criticizes USDA over genetic crops - Reuters

[Eugene]

Second US judge criticizes USDA over genetic crops
14 Feb 2007 19:01:03 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Carey Gillam

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb 14 (Reuters) - Biotech crop critics celebrated on Wednesday
the second court ruling this month to find the U.S. Agriculture Department acted
improperly in advancing certain genetically altered crops, both of which are tied
to biotech giant Monsanto Co. <MON.N>.

-snip-

U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer of the Northern District of California
in San Francisco criticized the USDA on Tuesday as "cavalier" and said department
violated the law by failing to adequately assess possible environmental impacts
before approving genetically engineered alfalfa developed by Monsanto.

-snip-

A coalition of farmers, consumers, and environmentalists, led by the Center for Food
Safety filed a lawsuit last year, alleging biotech alfalfa could create super weeds
resistant to herbicide, hurt production of organic dairy and beef products, and could
cause farmers to lose export business due to risks of contamination to natural and
organic alfalfa.

The suit also alleged that contamination of conventionally grown alfalfa could force
farmers to pay for Monsanto's patented gene technology whether they wanted it or not.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14345375.htm