Vermont Requires Labels for Altered Seeds

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Vermont Requires Labels for Altered Seeds

AP 28apr04

http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2004/VT-Requires-Labels28apr04.htm

 

MONTPELIER, Vt.—Vermont has become the first state to require the labeling of

genetically modified seeds.

 

Under the law, signed Monday by Gov. James Douglas, seed growers must label

seeds that are genetically modified or engineered after Oct. 1.

 

They also must report sales of such seeds in the state to the secretary of

agriculture every Jan. 15.

 

The law is a result of years of lobbying by various advocacy and environmental

organizations. Those groups helped spur a movement against genetically modified

seeds and crops across the state.

 

Lawmakers considered a range of options, including a moratorium on sale of the

seeds. The labeling requirement was seen as a compromise that advocates of a

moratorium hope to build on next year.

 

The bill won Senate passage last year. The House passed the bill this year as

part of a package of farm-related bills, including one to regulate large farms.

 

In a February hearing, Harvey Glick, Monsanto Co.'s director of scientific

affairs, told lawmakers that organic farms and farms that use genetically

modified crops or seeds can build buffer zones to reduce the possibility of

cross-pollination.

 

He also told the committee that genetically modified organisms are rigorously

tested by Monsanto, one of the world's largest distributors of agricultural

products and a top developer of genetically engineered crops, before the items

hit the market.

 

source:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/printer/ap.asp?category=1501 & slug=Genetically%20Mo\

dified%20Seeds 6may04

 

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