What would these bills do?
SB3232 requires labeling of whole genetically engineered foods sold in Hawaii.  The bill does not apply to processed foods that contain ingredients derived from genetically engineered crops.  SB3233 requires anyone seeking to grow a genetically engineered crop in Hawaii to provide basic information about the planting to the general public via a notice to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Why are these bills needed?
Hawaii has a reputation for producing high-quality foods, and its unique agricultural heritage depends upon maintaining this reputation.  Hawaii is also home to unique and fragile ecosystems that require protection.  Both bills are designed to protect Hawaii's agriculture, environment and economy from the unintended spread of genetically engineered (GE) crops, also known as GMOs.  Contamination of conventional and organic crops with GMOs nationally has cost farmers and food companies hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales due to food recalls, reduced prices and rejection by export markets.  The Federal District Court of Hawaii ruled in 2006 that the unintended dispersal of GMOs may in some cases also pose risks to Hawaii's environment, including its more than 300 threatened or endangered species.

Where do Hawaiians stand on labeling?
A poll by the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources shows that 72% of Hawaii's residents consider it very important that genetically engineered fruit be labeled.

How would labeling help prevent contamination?
Whole genetically engineered foods - such as papaya, sweet corn and squash - can reproduce.  Discarded seeds of whole genetically engineered foods that end up in cropland or natural areas may propagate, contaminating conventional crops or the environment.  At present, Hawaiians have no way of knowing whether fruits or vegetables they purchase are genetically engineered.  Labeling would provide the basis for education on the need to limit dispersal of genetically engineered crop seeds (or other viable crop material), thus preventing the adverse impacts of their unintended spread.

Has there been contamination in Hawaii?
Yes.  Papaya farmers and the Hawaii Genetic Engineering Action Network conducted extensive testing in 2004 and found widespread contamination of conventional and organic papaya with genetically engineered varieties.  Contamination has forced some papaya growers to cut down their trees.  Rejection of genetically engineered papaya by Japan and Europe means loss of export markets and lower prices.  Genetically engineered papaya is grown nowhere in the world other than Hawaii.

What is the purpose of the notification bill, SB3233?
SB3233 is essentially a "good neighbor" policy.  Farmers, gardeners or other citizens who work or live near an area where genetically engineered crops are planted have a right to be informed of this fact.  Such knowledge will help neighboring farmers or gardeners take protective measures to prevent contamination of their crop.  At present, the burden for preventing such contamination rests on growers of conventional or organic crops, not the grower of genetically engineered crops.

Will these bills increase food costs?
No.  Unlike genetically engineered food labeling proposals introduced elsewhere, this bill applies only to whole GE foods, not processed foods that contain ingredients from genetically engineered crops.  The only genetically engineered whole foods on the market today are papaya, sweet corn and squash.  Labeling of produce is already standard industry practice.  The bill would only require an additional notice on an existing label identifying the whole food as genetically engineered.

Will these bills threaten Hawaii's biotechnology industry?
No.  Agricultural biotechnology companies have made Hawaii the top nation in the country for field trials of experimental genetically engineered crops due to its year-round growing climate.  The notification bill would only require them to act as "good neighbors" by informing Hawaiian citizens of their activities.  Notification would build trust between biotechnology companies and the Hawaiian community.

What about "ecoterrorism"?
Some have fanned the flames of fear and paranoia by suggesting that GE crop field trials must remain secret because Hawaiian citizens cannot be trusted not to uproot the plants.  The overwhelming majority of GE plant destruction episodes have occurred overseas, they are extremely rare in the U.S.  In any case, if biotech companies have confidence in the health and environmental safety of their products, the best way they could demonstrate this would be to end their secretive practices.  The notification bill would build trust by increasing transparency.

Doesn't the U.S. government already regulate genetically engineered crops?
Federal regulation has failed to prevent the unintended spread of genetically engineered crops on numerous occassions, resulting in substantial economic harm to farmers whose crops have been contaminated by genetically engineered varieties.  The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has been strongly criticized by the National Academy of Sciences, its own Inspector General, and many others for grave deficiencies in its regulation of genetically engineered crops.

Have farmers really been hurt by contamination?
In 2006, rice farmers in the South lost an estimated $150 million when their rice crop was contaminated by an experimental (unapproved) variety of genetically engineered rice known as LibertyLink601.  Important export markets in Europe and elsewhere rejected the contaminated rice, resulting in lower prices and lost income.  In 2000/2001, U.S. corn and corn products were massively contaminated with a genetically engineered variety known as StarLink that was never approved for human consumption due to scientific concerns that it could cause food allergies.  Major food companies such as Kraft and Mission Foods were forced to recall over 300 contaminated corn products from supermarket shelves.  Corn prices fell as export markets rejected contaminated corn, and farmers suffered large losses.

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