A Kauai County law requiring companies to disclose their use of pesticides and GM crops is invalid, a federal judge has ruled

It's a disappointing ruling, but it seems the story is not over yet.

Federal judge: Kauai's GMO law is invalid

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Huffington Post, 25 Aug 2014
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/25/kauai-gmo-law-invalid_n_5711387.html

A Kauai County law requiring companies to disclose their use of pesticides and genetically modified crops is invalid, a federal judge ruled Monday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren ruled in favor of four seed companies seeking to stop Kauai's new law from going into effect in October.

Syngenta Seeds, DuPont Pioneer, Agrigenetics Inc., doing business as Dow AgroSciences, and BASF Plant Sciences sued for a permanent injunction, arguing the ordinance unfairly targets their industry.

Kurren's ruling agrees that the ordinance is pre-empted by state law. The judge's ruling stops the county from enforcing the ordinance.

"I'm disappointed but that's the judge's option," said Paul Achitoff, an Earthjustice attorney who helped defend the law on behalf of intervening community groups. "I think the consequences for the people of Kauai, in particular, and throughout the state are very unfortunate."

He said he'll discuss options to appeal with his clients.

Margery Bronster, an attorney representing two of the companies, said the judge's ruling makes it clear that counties don't have authority to regulate agriculture as called for in the ordinance.

"I'm very pleased because this is what we told the county when they were discussing it initially," she said. "I think they wasted time, effort, and money trying to fight for a law they had no right to pass in the first place."

Attorneys for the county didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Kauai County Council passed the ordinance over the veto of Mayor Bernard Carvalho, who called the measure flawed.

Councilman Gary Hooser, who co-authored the bill, said he hopes the county will appeal.

"These companies have fought compliance for over a year now. They have much more money than the county ... they're billion-dollar corporations determined not to follow the rules of Kauai County," he said. "This is a long way from over."

The law also required companies to establish buffer zones around sensitive areas, including schools and hospitals. The size of the buffer zone would vary depending on the property. For example, there would be 500 feet between a school and any crops using certain pesticides.

"People are concerned about their health, they're concerned about the environment," Hooser said. "This is just disclosure and buffer zones, nothing more. If they were good neighbors they would just comply."