The New York Attorney General’s office has declined to order the city to approve the planting of genetically engineered crops, citing the lack of federal regulatory guidance.
New York Gov.
Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that he would not enforce a state law requiring city officials to plant genetically engineered (GE) crops and instead will delay the approval of genetically modified crop cultivation until 2020.
Cuomo’s office said the city can still proceed with the cultivation of GE crops but only if the AG’s office determines it can avoid the issue by providing a written assurance from the state of New York that the plantings comply with state law.
Cuomos office has not yet made an official ruling on the state’s request to the AG to order approval of the GE crop cultivation, according to a statement from Cuomo’s office.
The AG’s announcement follows a review by the Office of Management and Budget, which found no specific state statute requiring the city or county to plant GE crops.NY AG’s statement on NY AG decision to allow city to plant GMOs: https://t.co/YJgJ8tJf8U pic.twitter.com/9u1wK9m7Vg — The Fox News (@FoxNews) December 3, 2018The NY AG is reviewing the AG Office of Public Health’s review of the issue and will consider further actions, according a Cuomo spokesman.
New Jersey Gov.
Chris Christie on Monday asked Cuomo to issue a proclamation exempting the city of Trenton from state regulations governing GE cultivation of crops, as well as from a statewide ban on GE crops in New Jersey.
Christie said in a statement that the governor will continue to work with New York to protect the health of our citizens, and we will be working with New Jersey state lawmakers and the governor to make sure we protect New Jersey residents from a possible threat to our food supply.NJ Gov.
Phil Murphy also asked Cuomo in a tweet Monday to exempt the city and counties of Trentons and New Brunswick from the restrictions on GE cultivation and cultivation of genetically altered crops, which he said are a direct threat to the health and safety of New Jersey citizens.
Murphy said in the tweet that New Jersey’s laws are the safest in the country, adding that New York has “no excuse for being a stopgap measure to protect New Yorkers.”
The governor is taking the matter to federal court, which is scheduled to hear the case on Monday, according, to the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group.
Cuominos office issued the statement in response to Murphy’s request for the exemption and said it is working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that state laws are followed and that no New Yorkers will suffer because of New Yorker’s concerns.
Cuobers statement about NY AG to delay approvals for GM crops until 2020: pic.://t:9jzp6qj1o4 pic.t:nNlMgH4Jy7 pic.m:tj3p3k8z7v — The New Yorker (@NewYorker) December 2, 2018″We will not allow our local government to be held hostage to the whims of a single federal agency,” Cuomo said in his statement.
“Our state government will be able to act quickly and protect New York and its residents.”
Cuomo and other New York officials have faced widespread criticism for failing to act on the issue, with critics calling the governor’s actions a “political stunt” that is hurting the state economy.
Critics say Cuomo has been too cozy with the agribusiness giants Monsanto and DuPont, who have lobbied on the city’s behalf.
The agribummers have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the agrochemical giants, according and Bloomberg News reported last month.
New Yorkers overwhelmingly oppose the growing of genetically-modified crops, according the Pew Research Center.
In a recent survey, 71 percent of New Yorkers said the state should not allow the cultivation and sale of genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, as the citys Department of Health has approved the cultivation.
In November, the state announced that it would ban the cultivation or sale of GMOs for up to six years in New York, the first time such a ban had been imposed in the United States.
The agribuses move comes as Cuomo has come under fire for not taking action to stop New York’s controversial ban on genetically engineered foods, which the state enacted in 2011.
The state has received a record number of complaints from people who have purchased genetically modified foods, including thousands of complaints filed by food safety advocates.
The AGs decision comes as New York prepares to host the 2016 Olympic Games and its first major trade show in nearly 50 years.
The NY AGs office said it will not be enforcing the state ban on GMOs during the event.