Posted April 29, 2015
U.S.
District Court Judge Christina Reiss ruled against the Grocery Manufacturers'
Association (GMA) and other industry groups in their request for a preliminary
order to block a genetically modified (GMO) food law from going into effect,
according to a U.S. News and World Report article available here.
Agri-Pulse also published an article available here
and WRAL here.
The Vermont law could make the state the first in the
country to require labeling of GMO foods and would go into effect July 1, 2016.
The judge
partially granted and partially denied the state's motion to dismiss the
industry lawsuit, which means the case could go to trial, according to WRAL.
The
Grocery Manufacturers Association said it was pleased the court "found us
likely to succeed on several of our claims" but was disappointed at the
denial of its request for a preliminary injunction.
"Manufacturers
are being harmed, and they are being harmed now," the association said in
a statement. "Act
120 is unconstitutional and imposes burdensome new speech requirements on
food manufacturers and retailers."
The Center
for Food Safety (CFS) hailed the federal court’s decision, according to Agri-Pulse.
“This
important ruling affirms the constitutionality of genetically engineered food
labeling, as well as the rights of Vermonters and U.S. citizens across the
country,” said
George
Kimbrell, senior attorney for Center for Food Safety (CFS) and counsel.
“Americans are demanding right to know if their food is produced through
genetic engineering, for health, environmental and many other reasons. This
decision is a crucial step in protecting those rights.”
CFS also noted
that, in the denying the Plaintiffs' injunction, Judge Reiss declared, “Because
the State has established that Act 120's GE disclosure requirement is
reasonably related to the State's substantial interests, under Zauderer,
Act 120's GE disclosure requirement is constitutional.”
For more information on biotechnology, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
