LA City Council to Consider Ban on GM Seeds and Plants

Los Angeles city council members Paul Koretz and Mitch O’Farrell have reportedly introduced a motion that would call on the city attorney to “prepare and present an ordinance which would prohibit the growth of genetically modified (GM) crops within city limits. Specifically, the ordinance should prohibit each [of] the following practices related to the growing of GM crops within city limits: the planting of GM seeds; the sale of GM seeds by vendors; the sale of any seeds that could potentially be contaminated by other genetically modified organisms (GMOs); the sale of GM fruit trees and plants.” The motion notes that 52 percent of “LA County residents voted in favor of Proposition 37, which would have required labeling on raw or processed genetically modified food products offered for sale to consumers.” It also raises questions about the safety of consuming GM foods and risks to the environment, including honey bee colony collapse disorder. See Huffington Post, October 22, 2013.