In a lawsuit filed Friday, March 18, against the legalization of Roundup Ready alfalfa, environmentalists are claiming that USDA is not “providing adequate oversight of a biotech crop.”
The Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice allege that USDA’s unrestricted approval of the genetically engineered (GE) crop was unlawful and that more herbicide will be released to the environment because of it. This is about two months after USDA decided to again deregulate the crop, which is currently being sold and planted in warmer areas of the U.S.
“This reckless approval flies in the face of overwhelming evidence that GE alfalfa threatens the rights of farmers and consumers, as well as significant harm to the environment. APHIS has refused to apply and enforce the law and instead has chosen to bow to the wishes of the biotech industry,” says Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, in a press release.
For the full press release, visit http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/2011/03/18/farmers-and-consumer-groups-file-lawsuit-challenging-genetically-engineered-alfalfa-approval/.
To view the lawsuit, visit http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1-Complaint.pdf.