St. Paul, Minnesota
October, 2007
 Most
organic farmers are aware that they may not plant genetically
modified organisms (GMOs), or seeds developed through genetic
engineering, if they wish to market their crops as organic. Yet
they may have questions about their legal rights and
responsibilities with respect to the unintended presence of
GMOs. Organic farmers and farmers transitioning to organic
production need information about the regulations governing
organic certification.
To try to meet the need for legal
information, Farmers’ Legal
Action Group, Inc. (FLAG) has written a new article,
If Your Farm Is Organic, Must It Be GMO Free? Organic Farmers,
Genetically Modified Organisms, and the Law.
This article examines requirements to avoid the use of genetic
engineering that affect crop and livestock farmers who are
certified organic, or who wish to become certified organic. It
also briefly addresses handling requirements as they apply to
organic farmers. The article concludes with a brief discussion
of sales contracts and the ways in which they may impose
responsibilities upon farmers that differ from the requirements
for organic certification.
In 2004, FLAG published a Farmers’ Guide to GMOs. The new
article is a companion piece to the book. “Organic farmers have
particular concerns, from maintaining their organic
certification to meeting the requirements of their buyers,”
notes FLAG attorney Jill Krueger. “Unfortunately, the
regulations can be confusing, and answers to some legal
questions that organic farmers have are still unclear. The
article discusses the importance of addressing issues related to
GMOs throughout the organic plan as a way to minimize the risk
of violating National Organic Program requirements. The article
also discusses the importance of carefully considering risks and
negotiating the contract before making promises related to
genetically modified organisms to buyers.”
Farmers may download a free copy of the 40-page article by
visiting FLAG’s Web site,
www.flaginc.org.
Printed copies can be obtained by calling FLAG’s office at
651-223-5400. In Minnesota, the phone call is toll-free at
1-877-860-4349. Printed copies are available to financially
distressed farmers in Minnesota at no charge; for all others,
the cost is $11.00, including postage.
Report:
http://www.flaginc.org/topics/pubs/arts/OrganicsAndGMOs2007.pdf
Farmers' Legal Action Group,
Inc. (FLAG) is a nonprofit law center dedicated to providing
legal services to family farmers and their rural communities in
order to help keep family farmers on the land. |
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