Oregon County Suspends Enforcement of GMO Ban

Oregon's Josephine County won't enforce a ban on genetically modified crops until a related lawsuit is resolved.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) β€” Oregon's Josephine County won't enforce a ban on genetically modified crops until a related lawsuit is resolved.

The Daily Courier newspaper reports that county voters passed a GMO ban in May 2014 and the county originally told farmers growing GMO crops to provide a phase-out plan by Sept. 4.

County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks says the Board of Commissioners decided to suspend that deadline until a court rules on a lawsuit brought against the county by Robert A. White Jr. and Shelly White, who grew GMO sugar beets.

The Whites say a state law pre-empts the county's ban.

Hicks said the county suspended enforcement of the ban because the Whites' attorney was going to file a temporary restraining order and there are no known GMO growers in the county now.

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