Kauai GMO Bill Moves Forward

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A special committee of the Kauai County Council passed Bill 2491 by a vote of 4-1 late Friday night. Councilman Mel Rapozo was the dissenting vote. 

The bill requires GMO companies to disclose their pesticide use; creates buffer zones between public areas including, schools, hospitals, roads and waterways; and requires that studies be conducted to assess the potential harms of pesticide use and GMO crops on human health and the environment. 

The bill, which passed the council’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, will now go to the full county council for deliberation. A hearing could be scheduled as early as next week. 

The vote came at 9:30 p.m. after about 12 hours of debate and public testimony. 

Read Civil Beat’s prior coverage of the Kauai GMO debate here: 

Kauai’s Passionate Anti-GMO March Aims to Sway Local Biotech Vote

Kauai’s Pesticide and GMO Bill Could Cost Millions

GMO Fight Club: Accusations Fly Over Biotech on Kauai

GMO Fight Heats Up on Kauai, Big Island

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Photo: A recent anti-GMO protest on Kauai sought to build support for Bill 2491. (Civil Beat)

— Sophie Cocke


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