U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White of San Francisco has ordered the destruction of 2012 sugar beet seedlings, or stecklings, that were authorized in September under permits issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection.
Monsanto said it would appeal the ruling and is requesting a stay which would permit the plants to not be destroyed. The Court's ruling does not affect the 2010 Roundup Ready sugar beet seed crop which had been planted earlier in the year prior to the September permits. Moreover, the decision will have little impact on the sugar beet crop that farmers anticipate planting in 2011. Stecklings produced in 2010 would supply seed for root crop growers in the 2012 season.
"With due respect, we believe the court's action overlooked the factual evidence presented that no harm would be caused by these plantings, and is plainly inconsistent with the established law as recently announced by the U.S. Supreme Court," said David Snively, general counsel for Monsanto. "We intend to seek an immediate stay of this ruling and appeal to the Court of Appeals."
Planting of the stecklings caused no harm to plaintiffs and APHIS's granting of the permits was both a lawful and measured action supported by both past APHIS practice and established procedures. Source: Feedstuffs
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