A federal judge invalidated a 2020 U.S.Department of Agriculture rule that eased oversight of genetically engineered crops, ordering stricter regulation to address environmental and legal concerns.
Douglas Main reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- The U.S. District Court for Northern California found the USDA’s 2020 rules violated the Plant Protection Act and failed to consider harms caused by deregulation.
- Plaintiffs argued the rules ignored risks such as contamination of non-GE plants, market disruption for farmers and impacts on biodiversity.
- The USDA must now rewrite its regulations, with the court vacating the rule effective Dec. 2.
Key quote:
“This is a critical victory on behalf of farmers, the planet and scientific integrity. USDA tried to hand over its job to [the] pesticide industry and the Court held that capitulation contrary to both law and science.”
— George Kimbrell, legal director, Center for Food Safety
Why this matters:
Genetically engineered crops dominate global agriculture, but their regulation influences farmer autonomy, market fairness and environmental health. Stricter oversight can mitigate risks like biodiversity loss and contamination of conventional crops.
