Genetic Engineering (GE) & Cloning
CCOF Advocacy on GE and Cloning and Organic Production
CCOF and The Genetic Engineering Policy Alliance
GE Legislation
Sourcing Non Genetically-Engineered Food
CCOF Advocacy on GE and Cloning and Organic Production
The use of genetic engineering and animal cloning is prohibited under the National Organic Program (NOP) and not allowed in the production of organic foods. Read more about genetic engineering.
CCOF has a history of working to protect farmers from GE contamination.
For years CCOF has opposed the commercialization of GE crops because of the threat they pose to organic and non-organic growers. CCOF has worked hard to ensure that the regulations adhered to by growers throughout California and the rest of the country prohibit the use of genetically engineered products in organic production. The USDA’s National Organic Program Final Rule classifies genetically modified products as an “excluded method” in organic production. CCOF played an instrumental role in ensuring that GMOs were excluded from the Final Rule when it was crafted and written into law. Learn more genetic engineering and why CCOF is opposed to GE crops.
On March 29, 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) voted 12-1 to prohibit progeny of clones throughout organic production. CCOF and major industry players like CCOF Certified Members Humboldt Creamery, Straus Organic Creamery and Whole Foods Market; CCOF Supporting Member Organic Valley, Aurora Organic Dairy, Horizon Organic, and Dean Foods were among those who carried weight in this food fight. It is now officially recognized that cloning as a production method and animal clones are incompatible with the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and are prohibited under the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations.
CCOF has aways been at the forefront of advocating against the use of genetic engineering and animal cloning and we remain engaged in a range of activities to protect the environment and ourselves and from the dangers of modifying the genes of plants and animals.
CCOF and The Genetic Engineering Policy Alliance
CCOF is a member of The Genetic Engineering Policy Alliance, a network of organizations and individuals promoting precautionary policies on genetically engineered food and agriculture that works to protect farmers from economic loss due to unwanted contamination from genetically engineered crops, promote the public’s right-to-know about the presence of genetically engineered crops in our food and agriculture and safeguard the environment and public health from damage due to exposure to genetically engineered crops and food.
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California's Governor Signs First Bill Protecting Farmers Against Lawsuits Linked to Genetically Engineered Crops
CCOF and our partner organizations in the lobbying coalition, The Genetic Engineering Policy Project, were delighted when a landmark piece of legislation protecting California's farmers from crippling lawsuits was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2008. Read Press Release. The bill, AB 541 (Huffman, D-Marin/Sonoma), was sponsored by a coalition of agriculture organizations and food businesses including CCOF, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Earthbound Farm, and United Natural Foods Inc. It also had the support of the California Farm Bureau Federation which has traditionally opposed any restrictions or regulations for GE crops. It is the first bill passed by the California legislature to bring much-needed regulation to genetically engineered (GE) crops.
AB 541 indemnifies California farmers who have not been able to prevent the inevitable - the drift of GE pollen or seed onto their land and the subsequent contamination of non-GE crops. Farmers with crops that become contaminated by patented seeds or pollen had been the target of harassing lawsuits brought by biotech patent holders, most notoriously Monsanto. Further, if their contaminated crops cause harm to other farmers, the environment or consumers, they had not been protected from that liability. AB 541 provides protections for farmers from such liability. The bill also establishes a mandatory crop sampling protocol to level the playing field when biotech companies investigate alleged patent or contract violations.
Download a copy of the bill.
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Sourcing Non Genetically Engineered Food
Are you curious about how your food is produced? You can refer to The True Food Shopping Guide which will provide you with all kinds of information about foods that have been genetically modified. CCOF has not verified any information on this site nor can CCOF guarantee the accuracy of the list. If you'd like to purchase your food from producers that you KNOW are not using anything that's been genetically engineered, use the CCOF Organic Directory. You can search by region, product, name of operation, location, etc.
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