Monday, October 06, 2003

Bush Administration Limits Farmers from Suing Pesticide-makers

"...if a pesticide not only doesn't do what it says it's supposed to do, but also kills your crop, that could cost you a year's income. There has to be some legal recourse, and (this change) could really limit that."—Tom Buis, National Farmers Union
The Bush administration, apparently feeling that donations from the pesticide industry are more important than votes from farmers in states Bush will probably win anyway, has changed a long standing federal position allowing farmers to sue pesticide companies when their products don't do what's advertised.

Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council says the change immunizes pesticide-makers from legitimate damage claims. The new policy also could bolster pesticide-makers' contention that federal labeling insulates them from suits alleging that their products caused broader health and environmental harm, Olson says.