Lane County Genetically Modified Organism Ban (2014)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

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A Lane County Genetically Modified Organism Ban, also known as the Lane County Local Food System Ordinance, ballot measure was not put on a 2014 election ballot for voters in Lane County, Oregon.

According to the website of the Eugene-based Support Local Food Rights (SLFR), which ran the initiative effort, this measure, if it had reached the ballot and had been approved, would have done the following:

• Recognize the right of residents "to a local food system that assures residents’ ability to grow and produce food, while at the same time, recognizing natures ability to thrive;"

• Prohibit genetically modified crops in Lane County;

• Place the rights of the community over corporate agribusiness powers and privileges.

When the SLFR originally proposed this initiative, the county clerk rejected the ordinance as too broad and ruled that it did not comply with single subject requirements. This measure then went before Oregon 2nd Judicial District Judge Charles Carlson, where county attorneys, backing up the clerk's ruling, argued that the proposed initiative was illegal. Attorneys fighting on behalf of SLFR and the initiative, however, argued that the ordinance has one purpose and that all of the sections of the proposed law are meant to protect and pursue that purpose. Final arguments were submitted on February 27, 2014. Ultimately, Judge Carlson upheld the original opinion and kept the measure off the ballot.

Ann Kneeland, spokesperson for Support Local Food Rights, identified the unifying principle of the Lane County Local Food System Ordinance as “obtaining and protecting a natural community.” She went on to say, “All the provisions in the ordinance advance that goal." Since Judge Carlson ultimately ruled against the initiative in his final decision, the SFLR was not authorized to begin collecting signatures.

Text of measure

Full text

The first section of the ordinance proposed by Support Local Food Rights, entitled "Purpose," is below:

“

Section 1. Purpose We the people of Lane County believe that ecology, economy, and food are inseparable and that the health of one fosters and enhances the health of all. We the people of Lane County know that the local food system of Lane County is essential to the well-being of residents, farmers, local food producers, consumers, and our local economy, and is dependent upon the health of the natural communities of Lane County. We the people of Lane County assert that our local food system can function and thrive only where there are protected rights to local food and seed heritage, and rights for natural communities; all of which are anchored by the right of the community to self-government; and that our local food system can exist and endure only in the absence of seed patents, genetically engineered organisms, and corporate and government interference in the aforementioned rights. We the people of Lane County assert that our right to local self-government is inherent, fundamental, and inalienable, and that our U.S. Declaration of Independence proclaims that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. We the people of Lane County affirm that the Oregon Constitution guarantees “that all [people], when they form a social compact are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.” We the people of Lane County understand that corporate constitutional rights, state preemption, and other civil laws and regulations that benefit corporations may be used to usurp the will of the people, thereby rendering the people of Lane County powerless to legislate matters of county concern, including the protection of our local food system and our natural communities. Now, therefore, the people of Lane County hereby adopt this Ordinance, which shall be known and may be cited as the “Local Food System Ordinance of Lane County.”

”

The full text of the ordinance that would be enacted by the approval of this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

The Eugene-based Support Local Food Rights (SLFR) was the organization behind the initiative.

According to the SLFR the following groups and organizations supported the initiative:

• Horton Road Organics
• Winter Green Farm
• Mountain Rose Herbs
• Eugene Magazine
• Take Root magazine
• Huerto de la Familia

An organization called GMO Free Oregon also supported all four 2014 local measures seeking to ban GMOs in Oregon.

Arguments in favor

The SLFR argued that this ordinance would protect the rights of local farmers and residents to operate free from contamination from genetically modified organisms. The group also proposed that the initiative would protect small farmers and persons from agribusiness, which "routinely uses their usurpation of the concept of 'rights' to override local efforts aimed at establishing economic and environmental health and autonomy."

Similar measures

See also: Local GMO on the ballot

Local bans

2015

• Benton County "Local Food System Ordinance" Genetically Modified Organism Ban, Measure 2-89 (May 2015) d

2014

• Maui County Genetically Modified Organism Moratorium Initiative (November 2014) a
  
• Humboldt County "Genetic Contamination Prevention Ordinance" GMO Ban Initiative, Measure P (November 2014) a
  
• Jackson County Genetically Modified Organism Ban, Measure 15-119 (May 2014) a
  
• Josephine County Genetically Modified Organism Ban, Measure 17-58 (May 2014) a
  
• Lane County Genetically Modified Organism Ban (2014)
  

Statewide labeling measures

• Colorado Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Initiative (2014) d
  
• Oregon Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Initiative (2014) d
  
• California Proposition 37, Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Initiative (2012) d
  
• Oregon Labeling of Genetically-Engineered Foods, Measure 27 (2002) d
  
• Washington Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Measure, Initiative 522 (2013) d

See also

• Local GMO on the ballot
• Notable local measures on the ballot
• Lane County, Oregon ballot measures

External links

Suggest a link

Basic info

• Lane County Elections Department website

Support

• Support Local Food Rights (SLFR) website
• Community Rights Lane County facebook page
• GMO Free Oregon website

Additional reading

• The Register-Guard, "Ruling sidetracked GMO petition," March 23, 2015