Earlier we wrote about the Obama administration's approval of Monsanto-owned genetically modified plants, including alfalfa. Shockingly, this USDA action seems to have been taken at the direction of the White House. (Listen to the audio in the above link for that information.)
In response, the Center for Food Safety, Earthjustice and others have filed a lawsuit, saying the approval of Monsanto alfalfa is "illegal" (h/t Jennifer Grayson).
From the complaint (pdf):
Plaintiffs ask this Court to declare the Deregulation Determination to be arbitrary and capricious, in violation of NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act], the PPA [Plant Protection Act] and the APA [Administrative Procedure Act]. Plaintiffs further ask this Court to vacate APHIS's [Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, an arm of the UDSA] decision to once again deregulate RRA [Roundup-Ready Alfalfa] without taking a "hard look" at the environmental consequences of its decision. ... Plaintiffs request injunctive, declaratory, and other relief this Court deems appropriate.The plaintiffs want the USDA order vacated. As the complaint notes, this has been adjudicated before, in 2005. Jennifer Grayson adds:
For those wondering about the status of the lawsuit, it is still pending; but according to True Food Network (CFS’ grassroots arm) Director Heather Whitehead, it is “progressing a pace.” Here’s hoping that a winning decision comes down soon, before those first soiled seeds are sown.Here's hoping indeed. I'll bet there's a race to spread those seeds as far and as fast as possible.
I'll pass news of the result when there is one.
GP
