Well, just a week after fully deregulating genetically modified alfalfa, the USDA goes one crazy step further and actually breaks the law in order to support genetic engineering.
Although a ruling banned sugar beet planting until a full EIS is prepared, the USDA has appealed and a hearing is slated for February 15. The USDA notes that a full EIS may take until May 2010 and they don't want to wait that long to plant GE crops.
The USDA apparently assumes that they are above federal law, because last Friday, U.S. agricultural regulators said that in spite of the court's decision, they're going to allow commercial planting of genetically modified sugar beets, while they complete the previously requested environmental impact statement (EIS).
According to USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), sugar beet planting will only be done under "closely controlled conditions" in order to prevent any potential plant pest risks - which really isn't the issue though, is it? Paul Achitoff, an attorney for Earthjustice, notes, "USDA has yet again violated the law requiring preparation of an EIS before unleashing this genetically engineered crop."
Monsanto's GE beets make up around 95% percent of the U.S. sugar beet crop and according to officials, if not grown, the U.S. will experience a large drop in available sugar - maybe not such a bad thing (IMO) - obesity epidemic anyone?
I'm not sure, at this point, how much more obnoxious the USDA is going to get with regards to GE crops. The USDA clearly favors Monsanto and cash over the organic Industry and organic consumers, and now even the law. This entire situation is 100% ridiculous, in my opinion. The USDA and Monsanto should be bound by the same laws as everyone else. What do you think?
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