Posted November 18, 2014
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by Monsanto Hawaiʻi against the County of Maui, according to a Maui News article available here. ABC KITV also published an article available hereand Honolulu Civil Beat here.
The lawsuit prevents the new genetically modified organisms (GMO) initiative from taking effect until the court reevaluates its legal merits.
The opinion also delays “the significant negative consequences this initiative, if enacted, would have on our employees, the local economy, Hawaiʻi agriculture and business in Maui County,” said company representatives.
The injunction will end on December 5, according to ABC KITV.
County voters passed the law with a narrow margin on November 4.
In the lawsuit, the companies stated that it’s “unfair for the county to ban genetically engineered farming until the county studies the public health and environmental effects and the County Council deems it’s safe,” according to Civil Beat.
The lawsuit comes after five Maui County residents and a nonprofit, the SHAKA Movement, sued the county, Monsanto, and Dow AgroSciences in state court to ensure that the ban would be enforced.
For more information on the GMO labeling, the National Agricultural Law Center is hosting a webinar November 19 and information is available on the website here.
For more information on food safety, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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