Kauai Mayor Vetoes Bill to Require Biotech Firms to Pay Higher Taxes

Mayor Bernard Carvalho said the bill was flawed and would have hurt the agricultural industry.

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Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho has vetoed a bill that sought to impose higher taxes on agricultural businesses conducting research on genetically modified crops.

The Garden Island reported that the Kauai County Council approved Bill 2546 by a vote of 4-2 last month.

The measure would have affected biotech firms Syngenta, DuPont Pioneer, BASF and Dow AgroSciences that cultivate genetically engineered seeds on Kauai because of its year-long growing season.

The bill is part of a growing backlash against Hawaii’s $243 million seed industry. Last year, Kauai approved a law to require more disclosure from biotech firms but the bill was struck down in federal court.

Click here to read the full story on The Garden Island.

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