[excerpt:]
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is poised to adopt a precautionary moratorium on the growing of genetically engineered crops in Santa Cruz County...

A report prepared by a subcommittee appointed by the board... identified... regulatory gaps: No government agency currently requires health testing of the effects of long-term exposure to genetically engineered organisms; farmers and gardeners who choose not to grow GE crops have no legal recourse if their plants are contaminated by GE pollen or seed; GE seeds and rootstock are sold unlabeled; and safeguards aren't in place to protect non-GE crops, other plants, domesticated animals, wildlife, and insects from exposure to GE pollen, seed and plant material...

Twelve California counties, including Santa Cruz County, are considering regulations and issues regarding GE foods and food crops, while Mendocino, Marin and Trinity counties have already adopted moratoriums or bans on the growing of GE crops. In addition, the city councils of Arcata and Point Arena have passed resolutions limiting the planting of genetically engineered crops.

Even as counties and municipalities grapple with GE crops, a bill before the state Assembly Agriculture Committee (SB1056) would take away the right of counties and cities to enact regulations on GE crops and strip the rights of voters to introduce local ballot initiatives limiting the propagation of GE crops...

The full article is available on the San Francisco Chronicle website.

See also:
Genetically Engineered Food Crops within Santa Cruz County 2.7MB
- 5/24/06 report to the Board of Supervisors

Santa Cruz County eyes ban on genetically engineered crops
- 6/8/06 Santa Cruz Sentinel