On Friday, Attorney General William HSorrell, with the support of a number of interested groups, asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont to uphold Act 120, Vermont’s law requiring the labeling of genetically engineered (aka, GE or GMO) food. The Office also opposed Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction. Last week’sfilingreiterates the State’s case that the Court should dismiss the lawsuit. It also argues that Plaintiffs are not entitled to an order enjoining the State from taking any action to enforce the law, which does not go into effect for nearly two years. “The State’s filing explains why Vermont’s labeling law is constitutionally sound,” said Attorney General Sorrell. “Vermonters want GE foods to be labeled, and our lawmakers have determined that food producers should provide that information,” he added.
The State’s filing was backed by a number of signed statements from experts and businesspeople. Two scientists (Dr. Michael Antoniou and Dr. Charles Benbrook), two economists (Dr. Andrew Dyke and Dr. Jane Kolodinsky), and a religious scholar (Dr. Conrad Brunk) filed statements defending Vermont’s labeling law as a rational and low-cost method to address important State interests. In addition, Jerry Greenfield from Ben & Jerry’s, as well as representatives of Clif Bar and Beanfields Snacks, filed statements explaining that Vermont’s labeling law would not be overly burdensome on industry. Attorney General Sorrell expressed his appreciation to the American Sustainable Business Council and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility “for coming forward to help us identify some of the many food manufacturers that support our labeling law.”
Also on Friday, four groups submitted “friend of the court”amicus briefsin support of Vermont’s labeling law. The Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic at Vermont Law School filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and the Center for Food Safety. Two other organizations, the Vermont Community Law Center and Free Speech for People, Inc., also filed their own amicus briefs.
Under ascheduling ordersigned by the Court, both sides will have an opportunity to submit additional filings over the next few weeks. While no date has yet been set, a time for oral argument could be scheduled as early as mid-December. After the Court hears argument from the parties, it will take a number of weeks or months before a decision is issued.
Vermont AG: Nov 17, 2014