United States
August 24, 2007
On May 3, 2007 the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California banned
the continual planting of the Roundup Ready Alfalfa (RRA) unless
the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) made an environmental
impact statement. In July, the Court granted USDA and Monsanto's
motion to amend the May 2007 judgment. The following amendments
are as follows:
- Handling, identification,
and containment standards for Roundup Ready Alfalfa shall
not be applied to RRA hay, unless that hay leaves its farm
of origin;
- The Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) shall publish and
distribute a best practices guide for the cleaning of
equipment used to produce RRA hay and seed;
- Monsanto and Forage
Genetics must provide APHIS with the RRA field location
information described therein; and
- APHIS should disclose RRA
location information on its website "as soon as
practicable."
APHIS recently announced that
alfalfa growers can now obtain information on RRA field
locations through a new toll-free number. The hotline may be
used by conventional or organic alfalfa farmers and prospective
alfalfa farmers to inquire about the proximity of their farms to
RRA fields.
For more information, visit
-
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/pdf/Alfalfa_Amended_Order_20070723.pdf
and
-
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/biotechnology/content/printable_version/pa_contactinfo_re_alfalfa.pdf |
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