Until now, the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s power to regulate genetically modified organisms ended when the USDA lifted federal restrictions on them.
Legislation introduced at Kitzhaber’s request — Senate Bill 207 — would allow the department to establish “control areas” to separate biotech crops from organic and conventional crops if the agency determines it’s “necessary to avoid conflicts” from cross-pollination.
Under state law, control areas are intended to protect crops from pests, diseases and noxious weeds.
The ODA can create control areas for biotech crops if the USDA regulates them as potential plant pests, but the state agency loses the authority once they’re determined not to pose that risk.
However, lawmakers have specifically allowed ODA to extend that control area authority to canola. Seed farmers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley fear that canola could cross-pollinate with related crops and ruin their market.
Kitzhaber likely proposed the bill to assuage GMO critics who opposed legislation he introduced in 2013 that pre-empted most local government from regulating genetically engineered crops, she said.
Read full, original article: Governor seeks to expand Oregon’s GMO authority
