Oversight of genetically modified crops in Hawaii remains the state’s kuleana, a federal judge ruled Wednesday when invalidating Hawaii County’s law restricting the use of transgenic plants.
The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren was in line with another decision he made in August overturning Kauai County’s law on pesticides and modified crops. In both, he found lawmakers intended the state to have broad oversight of agricultural issues in Hawaii.
The law — adopted by Hawaii County Council a year ago — bannned open-air use and testing of GMOs with a few exceptions. Kurren ruled the law was only partially preempted by federal law.
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/judge-invalidates-county-gmo-law