Changes

The '''"Monsanto Protection Act"''' refers to an effort within a law passed by Congress to allow [[genetically engineered]] crops ([[GMOs]]) to remain in the ground during the course of any court challenges. The move comes came in the wake of successful court challenges by opponents of [[genetic engineering]] to two crops, [[Roundup Ready Alfalfa]] and [[Roundup Ready Sugarbeets]]. The name "Monsanto Protection Act" was given to this clause by [[Food Democracy Now!]] and was then adopted by opponents of genetic engineering such as the [[Organic Consumers Association]] and the [[Alliance for Natural Health]].<ref name="Natural News">Jonathan Benson, "[http://www.naturalnews.com/036477_Monsanto_immunity_GM_crops.html 'Monsanto Protection Act' to grant biotech industry total immunity over GM crops?]," Natural News, July 15, 2012.</ref> Advocates of biotechnology refer to it as the "farmer assurance provision."<ref name="Natural News"/><ref>Dave Murphy, Personal Communication with Jill Richardson, July 26, 2012.</ref> The rider was initially placed in H.R. 5973: Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Section 733 in 2012. The House Agriculture Appropriations bill, sponsored by Rep. [[Jack Kingston]] (R-GA), was introduced and passed out of committee on June 20, 2012.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr5973 H.R. 5973: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013], Govtrack.us.</ref> It did not become law. In 2013, the same clause was included in H.R. 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, Section 735. It passed Congress on March 21, 2013 and was signed by President Obama on March26, 2013. It became Pub.L. 113-6.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr933 HR 933: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013], Govtrack.us, Accessed April 4, 2013.</ref>

The specific clause lies within H.R. 5973: Agriculture Appropriations Bill933, Section 733. The House Agriculture Appropriations bill735, sponsored which was signed into law by Rep. [[Jack Kingston]] (R-GA), was introduced and passed out of committee on June 20, 2012.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr5973 H.R. 5973: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013], Govtrack.us.</ref> It readPresident Obama, in partreads as follows:

:"Sec. 733735. In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant temporary permit(s) or temporary deregulation in part, subject to necessary and appropriate conditions consistent with section 411(a) or 412(c) of the Plant Protection Act, which interim conditions shall authorize the movement, introduction, continued cultivation, commercialization and other specifically enumerated activities and requirements, including measures designed to mitigate or minimize potential adverse environmental effects, if any, relevant to the Secretary’s evaluation of the petition for non-regulated status, while ensuring that growers or other users are able to move, plant, cultivate, introduce into commerce and carry out other authorized activities in a timely manner: Provided, That all such conditions shall be applicable only for the interim period necessary for the Secretary to complete any required analyses or consultations related to the petition for non-regulated status: Provided further, That nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the Secretary’s authority under section 411, 412 and 414 of the Plant Protection Act."<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112113/hr5973hr933/text HFull Text of HR 933], GovTrack.R. 5973: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administrationus, and Related Agencies Appropriations ActAccessed April 4, 2013], Govtrack.us.</ref>