WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a federal judge went too far when he banned the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa seeds after it was claimed that the plants might harm the environment.
In a 7-1 vote Monday, the court reversed a federal appeals-court ruling that had prohibited Monsanto Co. from selling alfalfa seeds because they are resistant to the popular weed killer Roundup.
The Agriculture Department must now decide whether to allow the genetically modified seeds to be planted. It had earlier approved the seeds, but courts in California and Oregon said the USDA did not look hard enough at whether the seeds would eventually share their genes with other crops.
“In light of the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the lower court’s injunction, USDA is moving forward with the completion of the environmental-impact statement on the deregulation of Roundup Ready Alfalfa, and nothing in the Supreme Court’s decision affects that ongoing process,” said Caleb Weaver, the USDA’s press secretary.
“This Supreme Court ruling is important for every American farmer, not just alfalfa growers,” said David Snively, Monsanto’s senior vice president and general counsel. “All growers can rely on the expertise of USDA and trust that future challenges to biotech approvals must now be based on scientific facts, not speculation.”
Opponents of the genetically engineered seeds also claimed victory.
“The ban on the crop will remain in place until a full and adequate EIS (environmental-impact statement) is prepared by USDA and they officially deregulate the crop,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety.
