Seed Today - Q1 2008 - (Page 18)

USDA’s determination to deregulate a Roundup Ready crop is again the subject of a new suit filed in California federal court On January 23, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) et al filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking to overturn the USDA’s deregulation determination for H7-1 Roundup Ready sugar beets. Plaintiffs in the suit ask the court to vacate USDA’s deregulation determination, and order USDA to prepare a full environmental impact statement in conjunction with any future deregulation determination. The suit also asks the court to enjoin any planting, sale or dissemination of Roundup Ready sugar beets pending USDA’s compliance with all applicable federal laws. The plaintiffs allege in the suit that the “USDA’s decision to deregulate Roundup Ready sugar beets violated federal law. As set forth below, the environmental assessment prepared by USDA in connection with its deregulation determination is cursory and wholly inadequate, in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). In addition, USDA’s deregulation determination violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Plant Protection Act.” Monsanto is not named in the suit. court documents in January, Monsanto Public Affairs Director Darrin Wallis says Monsanto is currently reviewing the documents to determine what steps, if any, the company will take. According to Wallis: • Monsanto is confident in the U.S. regulatory process which has reviewed and approved products that have been used over millions of acres for more than 14 years. • Monsanto is confident in the safety and effectiveness of the Roundup Ready system which has provided farmers and environment proven benefits. • Monsanto is also confident in the ability of the company, our licensees and our growers to responsibly steward the technology. Wallis also noted that regulators in Canada, Mexico and Japan have approved Roundup Ready sugar beets. Roundup Ready J101 and J163 alfalfa overturned. On May 3, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer ruled the USDA’s 2005 approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa was illegal. The judge called on USDA to ban any further planting of the alfalfa seed until it conducts a complete Environmental Impact Statement, a process that is now underway. In the court documents, CFS says it “seeks to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that GE products are thoroughly safety-tested prior to any marketing; that such products are tested in a manner that minimizes any risk of contaminating non-GE seeds, organic seeds, food supplies or the environment.” CFS says it seeks to provide consumers with a means of identifying GE foods on the market and to encourage full public participation in defining and addressing the issues presented by GE crops. To this end, CFS sends out action alerts to its 57,000 member True Food Network. These action alerts generate letters to governmental officials concerning genetic engineering and other issues affecting a sustainable food system. Joe Funk, editor Overturn Attempt Number Two This is the second attempt by these plaintiffs to have a USDA deregulation determination reversed. In February, 2007, CFS and others filed suit in the same court seeking to have the USDA’s deregulation determination for Monsanto’s Response While Monsanto was reviewing 18 First Quarter 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Seed Today - Q1 2008

Seed Today - Q1 2008 Contents Editor’s Notes Cover Feature: Agrecol® Corporation Reed Barker, Ph.D. Cal/West Seeds Inc. Annual GM Use Report Bt Resistance Reported Camelina Tony Harper Gayle Jacklin According to ASTA Krauter Structures AOSCA AOSA/SCST GM and Greenhouse Gas Seed Associations Ad Index

Seed Today - Q1 2008

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