Why should states regulate genetic engineering? Doesn’t the federal government already do that?
A. States should regulate genetic engineering for a number of reasons. First, current federal management of GE organisms is complex and out of date. Regulatory duties are spread across three federal agencies and directed by twelve federal laws. The scheme is out of date because the framework was laid out a number of years ago and fails to address the new advancements in agricultural biotechnology. Second, states are at the forefront of this debate. State action in the last two legislative sessions indicates that more than half of the states have dealt with this issue in some way. As more states enact rules and regulations guiding GE organisms the federal government will recognize that a patchwork network of regulations may not be the most effective method and take action. Even counties have begun to declare themselves to remain free of GE organisms as Mendocino County, California, did in a recent vote. Finally, it is important for states to address the many economic factors – agricultu
