HOUSE SPENDING BILL EXTENDS PROTECTIONS FOR MONSANTO

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By Miriam Raftery

September 25, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – A spending bill passed by the House has drawn fire over its efforts to eliminate funds for healthcare reforms. But a less well publicized clause could also pose risks to human health by banning federal courts from stopping sale of genetically modified seeds, preventinglawsuits even if their products cause harmful health effects or harm small farmers, such as by contaminating organic foods.  

The law has been dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act” by consumer groups and a petition has been launched asking the Senate to eliminate the special interest language protecting the biotech industry at the expense of consumers and small farmers.

The measure was first slipped into a short-term funding bill back in March that was signed by President Obama.  It’s set to expire – but advocates of big biotech companies such as Monsanto and Cargill have added it into the spending bill passed by the House days ago. 

Colin O’Neill at the Center for Food Safety has called the measure “a slap in the face to the American public and our justice system.”


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