Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The Oregon State Legislature Passes a Bill that Prohibits Counties from Regulating Genetically Engineered Crops

S.B. 863 declares that “regulation of agricultural seed, flower seed, nursery seed and vegetable seed and products of agricultural seed, flower seed, nursery seed and vegetable seed be reserved to the state,” preventing local governments from adopting any of their own GE policies. 

Senate Bill 863 has been passed by the senate and the house but is still waiting to be signed into law by Oregon’s Governor. Governor John Kitzhaber has stated that before he signs the bill into law he wants state officials to map locations of GE crops.  In addition, he wants to implement buffer zones between GE crops and organic crops in the state by 2015. 

To view Senate Bill 863 and additional general information about the bill click here.
To track the continuing activity of the bill click here

Written by Joseph Negaard - Research Assistant
The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center
@PSUAgLawCenter
October 8, 2013

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