One Minute Activist
December, 2001

Ask Massachusetts Senator David Magnani to support Bill 1789, An Act Relative to the Liability for Genetically Engineered Food. The bill aims to hold the biotechnology corporations that create genetically engineering seeds responsible for any adverse effects.

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Text of December's One Minute Activist Letter:

December 2001

Senator David Magnani 617-722-1640
State House, Room 323
Boston, MA 02133

I am writing to voice my support for Bill 1789, An Act Relative to the Liability for Genetically Engineered Food. I believe we should hold the biotechnology corporations that create genetically engineering seeds responsible for any adverse effects related to economic loss (including protections for farmers), human health (including allergic reactions), or the environment (including soil destruction and insect resistance).

Currently, if a farmer's crop is contaminated with pollen from his/her neighbor’s crop he can only sue his neighbor. This is problematic because farmers are barely making ends meet as it is. They can't afford to have their neighbor suing them for a product's defects they cannot control. In addition, if someone becomes sick after eating genetically engineered foods, people can possibly sue the food manufacturer, but again, the manufacturer cannot control the product's defects. The liability legislation would place all blame for harm to human health, the environment and economic loss due to product defect on the developer of genetically engineered products rather than the people or companies that use them.

I ask that the MA Senate Committee on Science & Technology support this bill, and that you support this legislation when it comes to the floor for a vote.

Sincerely,

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