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Sierra Club Lawsuits

Protecting Consumers and the Environment

Case Updates:

April 16, 2007

In a decision that protect both consumers and the environment, on February 13, 2007 a federal judge ruled that the US Department of Agriculture violated federal environmental laws by approving a genetically engineered crop without adequately assessing the environmental impacts of this decision. Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the USDA failed to consider potential significant effects that genetically engineered alfalfa could have on the human environment, such as contamination of organic alfalfa fields and the creation of “superweeds” resistant to common herbicides. This ruling came in response to a legal challenge brought by a coalition including the center for food safety, the Sierra Club and a large group of farmers and consumers.

Details and Documents:

Read the Sierra Club's policy on Genetic Engineering

Judge Stops Sale of Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered Alfalfa

March 13, 2007 by Andrew Pollack, The New York Times

U.S. Judge Halts Sales of Monsanto GMO Alfalfa

March 12, 2007 by Carey Gillam, Reuters