General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: He failed us - Obama signs Monsanto Protection Act! It's Time to Label GMOs! [View all]cheapdate
(3,811 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 27, 2013, 05:03 PM - Edit history (1)
As far as I can tell, the provisions in section 735 place some limits on the manner in which the Secretary of Argiculture can use his power to regulate GMOs as "plant pests" under the Plant Protection Act.
Is it a loss for opponents of Monsanto? Yes, but for goodness sake, the war is not lost. This was a minor battle.
I loathe Monsanto. I think what they're doing to the living world is morally equal to an act of war.
But I also think that excoriating the president for not vetoing the comprehensive appropriations bill over this single provision is foolish. The magnitude of this minor loss is being greatly exaggerated here, and the measure of recrimination being directed at the president is unwarranted and unrealistic.
Here is section 735:
"Sec. 735. In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant temporary permit(s) or temporary deregulation in part, subject to necessary and appropriate conditions consistent with section 411(a) or 412(c) of the Plant Protection Act, which interim conditions shall authorize the movement, introduction, continued cultivation, commercialization and other specifically enumerated activities and requirements, including measures designed to mitigate or minimize potential adverse environmental effects, if any, relevant to the Secretarys evaluation of the petition for non-regulated status, while ensuring that growers or other users are able to move, plant, cultivate, introduce into"