Sacramento - Assemblymember Jared Huffman’s, (AD 6) AB 541, The Food and Farm Protection Act, passed out of its first committee today with a vote of  7 to 3 in support. The bill will establish California’s first state policy regarding genetic engineering in agriculture and protect farmers, the food supply and the environment from harms caused by genetic contamination of crops.

AB 541 addresses the issues arising when genetically engineered, or GE, plants cross-pollinate, get moved by animals, and mix during handling and processing with non-GE crops. In spite of the best efforts of GE producers and those trying to remain GE-free, contamination can and does occur. Farmers with markets that reject GE foods can suffer significant economic damage when their crops are contaminated.

The focus of the Judiciary Committee was on the provision of the bill that establishes that the GE crop manufacturer — and not the farmer who properly planted the GE crop — is the responsible party if contamination occurs and causes economic damages to others.

“In contamination incidents to date, the burden has been on victimized farmers to take their case to court without the benefit of established case law or legislation establishing liability,” stated Assemblymember Huffman in his testimony. “This bill levels the playing field for victims of contamination, and places the responsibility where it belongs, on the manufacturer, the entity that owns the GE plant.”

The bill has the support of a wide range of organizations including California Farmers Union, Rice Producers of California, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, California Certified Organic Farmers, Earthbound Farm, California Church IMPACT, Consumers Union, Sierra Club California, Environment California, Planning and Conservation League, and thousands of farmers and individuals.

AB 541 will next be heard in the Assembly Agriculture Committee on April 25th.