Maine Passes Bill Regulating GE Seeds

http://www.centralmaine.com/news/stories/010611mofga_la.shtml

Monday, June 11, 2001
Maine Passes Bill Regulating GE Seeds
MOFGA announces passage of seed-growing bill
Staff report

UNITY The Maine bill on genetic cross-contamination proposed by the Maine
Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and introduced by Rep. Linda
Rogers McKee, D-Wayne, has been signed into law.

L.D. 1266 requires manufacturers or seed dealers of genetically engineered
plants, plant parts or seeds to provide written instructions to all growers
on how to plant, grow, and harvest the crops to minimize potential
cross-contamination of non-genetically engineered crops or wild plant
populations. Copies of the instructions must be filed with the Maine
Commissioner of Agriculture at least 20 days in advance of any sale of the
GE plants in Maine.

The bill also requires the manufacturer or the seed dealer to identify and
maintain a list of the names and addresses of all Maine growers of its GE
plants (except for seeds sold at retail level in packets weighing less than
1 pound), and to permit the commissioner of agriculture to inspect the list
when requested to facilitate an investigation into a claim of
cross-contamination.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the act may result in a civil
fine of up to $1,500, or loss or suspension of the violator's license to do
business in Maine.

The text available on the Maine Legislature's Web site is the original MOFGA
proposal, not the final amended version. Requests for the final text may be
directed to Sharon Tisher at her e-mail address:
sharon_tisher@umenfa.maine.edu. You may also call 581-3158.

MOFGA's original proposal would have made manufacturers strictly liable for
any damages due to cross-contamination. That provision dropped out of the
amended version after extensive negotiation in order to secure a unanimous
Ought to Pass vote from the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture,
Conservationand Forestry.

Sharon Tisher, chair of MOFGA's Public Policy Committee, said, "We are
delighted that this legislation passed. It's not all that we asked for, but
it takes an important and necessary first step toward ensuring that
manufacturers address the problem of cross contamination, and that growers
are aware of the problem and are instructed in how to prevent it."

For more information on legislative developments, consult MOFGA's Web page:
www.mofga.org.