Federal judge puts just-passed Maui GMO law on hold

United States Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren ruled last Friday that Maui County may not implement a new law banning the cultivation of genetically modified organisms until he considers arguments in a lawsuit against the measure.

Monsanto Co. and a unit of Dow Chemical Co. sued the county last week to stop the law. Employees of the companies and Maui County businesses joined the lawsuit.

They argue that the law, passed November 4, would harm the economy and their businesses. They said the court has already ruled in another case involving a Kauai law regulating genetically engineered crops that the state, and not the county, has jurisdiction over the issue.

Kenneth Robbins, an attorney for the companies, said Kurren was saying in his ruling the plaintiffs have shown they could potentially suffer irreparable harm if the law goes into effect.

The case put the county in the awkward position of asking a judge to order it to not enforce one of its laws. But Maui County spokesman Rod Antone said it’s hard to enforce the law when it’s being challenged. He said the county wants all pending legal matters resolved.

Read full, original article: Judge blocks Maui County from implementing GMO law

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