1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Genetically Engineered Technology Farmer Protection
Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Genetically engineered crop and animal farmer
protection
Sec. 101. Short title; findings.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Information requirements regarding sale of
genetically engineered seeds, plants, and animals.
Sec. 104. Contract limitations regarding sale of genetically
engineered seeds, plants, and animals.
Sec. 105. Prevention of noncompetitive practices involving
technology fees.
Sec. 106. Measures to avoid cross pollination involving
genetically engineered seeds or plants.
Sec. 107. Resistance of agricultural pests to certain naturally
occurring pesticide; amendment to Federal insecticide, fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act.
Sec. 108. Prohibition on labeling certain seeds as
non-genetically engineered.
Sec. 109. Prohibition on certain non-fertile plant
seeds.
Sec. 110. Prohibition on loan discrimination.
Sec. 111. Civil penalties for violation.
Sec. 112. Citizen suits.
Title II—Genetically engineered organism liability
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Findings.
Sec. 203. Liability.
<enum>I</enum><header>Genetically
engineered crop and animal farmer protection</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBFF0551F1CA44369AB9C0D384435EDB8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title;
findings</header>
<subsection id="H484EB687E29B4CFC941F8E07CE7F9C8A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Short
title</header><text>This title may be cited as the <quote>Genetically
Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer Protection Act</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H820A93B56A634C528F708556C08C4C58"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress
finds the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H2EFDD5A5B787419591F1A5FF67753199"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Agribusiness and
biotechnology companies have rapidly consolidated market power at the same time
as the average farmer’s profits and viability have significantly
declined.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5DA55B8ADB70417D8EDB07F9FD0AE3CC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Policies promoted
by biotech corporations, such as patenting of seeds, depriving farmers the
right to save seed, unreasonable seed contracts, and intrusion into everyday
farm operations, have systematically acted to remove basic farmer rights
enjoyed since the beginning of agriculture and essential for agricultural
sustainability and the survival of family farms.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H47D2518868FD4D2E82E3C39B5ABAE72D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The introduction
of genetically engineered crops has also created obstacles for farmers,
including the loss of markets and increased liability concerns.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8106A93D76ED4B25A9149B255C84CF73"><enum>(4)</enum><text>To mitigate the
abuses upon farmers, a clear set of farmer rights must be established.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H2823228B110A45EFAFE9FCBE4CF280B2"><enum>102.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H78904E841CDE4B57B7D3F7CDF5E349A7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Genetically
engineered animal</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered
animal</term> means an animal that contains a genetically engineered material
or was produced with a genetically engineered material. An animal shall be
considered to contain a genetically engineered material or to have been
produced with a genetically engineered material if the animal has been injected
or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material or is the offspring
of an animal that has been so injected or treated.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D1FF1B261494BA7B76D60F0755C6F0B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Genetically
engineered plant</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered
plant</term> means a plant that contains a genetically engineered material or
was produced from a genetically engineered seed. A plant shall be considered to
contain a genetically engineered material if the plant has been injected or
otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material (except that the use
of manure as a fertilizer for the plant may not be construed to mean that the
plant is produced with a genetically engineered material).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB7B9F3FCA07B4BB286C77C000107EE23"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Genetically
engineered seed</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered seed</term>
means a seed that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced
with a genetically engineered material. A seed shall be considered to contain a
genetically engineered material or to have been produced with a genetically
engineered material if the seed (or the plant from which the seed is derived)
has been injected or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material
(except that the use of manure as a fertilizer for the plant may not be
construed to mean that any resulting seeds are produced with a genetically
engineered material).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0E1861A6F5174490A82FB096B443E384"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Genetically
engineered material</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered
material</term> means material that has been altered at the molecular or
cellular level by means that are not possible under natural conditions or
processes (including recombinant DNA and RNA techniques, cell fusion,
microencapsulation, macroencapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing
a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes), other than a means
consisting exclusively of breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization,
in vitro fertilization, tissue culture, or mutagenesis.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD6EDB5B0E44849A691B45F6F8A383BB9"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Biotech
company</header><text>The term <term>biotech company</term> means a person
engaged in the business of creating genetically engineered material or
obtaining the patent rights to that material for the purposes of commercial
exploitation of that material. The term does not include the employees of such
person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAC7574DBBD29494498A877AA7CD1EF20"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H796ED5867CD94513B1041AB21292BDF3"><enum>103.</enum><header>Information
requirements regarding sale of genetically engineered seeds, plants, and
animals</header>
<subsection id="H0F2D65DF4A134C8C9E43D5954CE37848"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Full disclosure
of risks of use</header><text>A biotech company that sells any genetically
engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed
that the biotech company knows, or has reason to believe, will be used by the
purchaser in the United States to produce an agricultural commodity shall
provide written notice to the purchaser that fully and clearly discloses the
possible legal and environmental risks that the use of the genetically
engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed
may pose to the purchaser.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H11845366A8CD476796770E9704439DDC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effect of
disclosure</header><text>The provision of written notice under subsection (a)
regarding the risks of using a genetically engineered animal, genetically
engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed does not relieve the biotech
company from any liability that may result from the release of genetically
engineered material into the environment. The receipt of the written notice by
the purchaser shall not be construed to create any liability on the
purchaser.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3AEEB61B067D4FBDB24ADBD1991CDECA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header><text>The
Secretary shall issue such rules as may be necessary to implement and enforce
this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H9E5F5AE2A2E24BB4ADF7BD00D00F3EC3"><enum>104.</enum><header>Contract
limitations regarding sale of genetically engineered seeds, plants, and
animals</header>
<subsection id="H15D9DF1ABEE34923B69128DAF16CF471"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certain contract
terms and limitations unenforceable</header><text>If a contract for the sale of
a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically
engineered seed to a purchaser for use in agricultural production contains a
provision described in subsection (b), the provision is hereby declared to be
against public policy and therefore void and unenforceable as a matter of
law.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCF75A961EDAE46778A1961F4D16DDDC0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibited terms
and limitations</header><text>The provisions referred to in subsection (a) are
any of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H6E699D3EF4E041969FAF2432BBB5960E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In the case of a
sale of genetically engineered plants or genetically engineered seeds, a
provision that prohibits the purchaser from retaining a portion of the
harvested crop for future crop planting by the purchaser or that charges a fee
to retain a portion of the harvested crop for future crop planting.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7FEDE7FFBC52473F8E330175E8A9DD5E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A
provision that limits the ability of the purchaser to recover damages from the
biotech company for a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered
plant, or genetically engineered seed that does not perform as
advertised.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H46F028F48B1B448789EE996A1D8533BC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A
provision that shifts any liability from the biotech company to the
purchaser.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC774DF8FEA7C4654B35B115103691413"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A
provision that requires the purchaser to grant agents of the seller access to
the purchaser’s property.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2D239F33D8BD4B42A2FD071B398D3FD9"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A
provision that mandates arbitration of any disputes between the biotech company
and the purchaser.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCE176A1B786C4152ADF4ACE86DEA9DAA"><enum>(6)</enum><text>A
provision that mandates any court of jurisdiction for settlement of
disputes.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H713BA84FB88F4D3AB6F381C12BDAF233"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A
provision that mandates that the purchaser pay liquidated damages of more than
a technology fee or similar fee itself, plus interest.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H66E7C6881DCA43E08CA6A58EEB31E9BC"><enum>(8)</enum><text>A
provision that imposes any unfair condition upon the purchaser, as determined
by the Secretary or a court.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H804A4346ED764817B8ADE056C6242672"><enum>105.</enum><header>Prevention of
noncompetitive practices involving technology fees</header>
<subsection id="HDD76D95045044F90BAC02EB2E54F37DF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Disclosure of
technology fees</header><text>Any biotech company that sells a genetically
engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed
for use in agricultural production in the United States shall notify the
Secretary, at such times and in such manner as the Secretary shall require,
of—</text>
<paragraph id="HAC2F4FEF4B3D4C6B8757990A86C0753F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the nature and
amount of any technology, nonproduction, royalty, or similar fees collected by
the biotech company in each country where that genetically engineered animal,
plant, or seed is marketed, and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5393014290B847119CB69F62679C4A77"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of
genetically engineered plants or genetically engineered seeds, the prices
charged by the biotech company for herbicides associated with that genetically
engineered seed or plant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCAC2BA0DB52A45EBAAD9226E2CEAB9D6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition on
noncompetitive practices</header><text>A biotech company that sells a
genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically
engineered seed for use in agricultural production in the United States may not
charge higher technology, nonproduction, royalty, or similar fees for sales of
the genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed in the United States than in
other countries in which the genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed is
sold.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H587C5A7BEF27422DA1586D39DE40D89C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Publication of
data</header><text>The Secretary shall publish all data received under
subsection (a)(1) every six months in an electronic format and in the Federal
Register.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H473CA44C8CD0490FB19326244E7BE5A9"><enum>106.</enum><header>Measures to
avoid cross pollination involving genetically engineered seeds or
plants</header>
<subsection id="H3094F0F8FE0648ABB3EC95BB0B2A5812"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designation of
predominately outcrossed pollinators</header><text>The Secretary shall
determine which plants are predominately outcrossed pollinators and make such
information available to persons who sell or purchase such plants or the seeds
of such plants for use in agricultural production.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5632A9BD97F94AC3B76778512494E647"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Minimizing the
negative effects of predominately outcrossed pollinators</header><text>The
Secretary shall issue rules to require effective mitigation strategies for any
crop that is a predominately outcrossed pollinator.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC8917013184844AEBF0D14E58127B8EE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Providing
instructions To avoid cross pollination</header><text>The seller of any
genetically engineered plant or genetically engineered seed that has been
identified as a predominately outcrossed pollinator shall provide written
instructions to each purchaser of the plants or seeds regarding how to plant
and cultivate the plants or seeds so as to avoid cross contamination.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HB862E4C575C4404AB1824C5F8E7D6BC0"><enum>107.</enum><header>Resistance of
agricultural pests to certain naturally occurring pesticide; amendment to
Federal insecticide, fungicide, and Rodenticide Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3(c) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FIFRA">Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act</act-name> (7 U.S.C. 136a(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block act-name="Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act" id="H42CA19EF4D1645798EBE48FBF9C04EBD">
<paragraph id="HD38BFD0561BE4265BBDC4E8F83CB9941"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Bt resistance
regarding plant-incorporated pesticides</header>
<subparagraph id="H973E9C0A8A214B048B83FF4CC081886B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than six
months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator, in
consultation with the advisory panel established under subparagraph (D), shall
establish the best achievable resistance plan for plant-incorporated pesticides
engineered to include toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis
(which bacterium is referred to in this paragraph as <quote>Bt</quote>).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF3F0C72D614E4B0A9CB6BBEC9D60D290"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Once the best
achievable resistance plan is established under subparagraph (A), the
Administrator shall revoke all Bt registrations that are not in compliance with
the plan and may not issue new registrations unless the applicant has achieved
the plan.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6E25FF431C364B2F8B55541A577AA077"><enum>(C)</enum><text>If pursuant to
subparagraph (A) the Administrator determines that plant-incorporated Bt
pesticides may have an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment by
facilitating the development of Bt-toxin resistance in pests, or that the
review has been inconclusive on whether the pesticide facilitates such
resistance, the Administrator shall take such actions under this Act as may be
necessary to significantly reduce the extent to which such pesticides are
used.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAC67CACB0FF44F63BA86929838FE9DA0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Before
establishing the best achievable resistance plan under subparagraph (A), the
Administrator shall, in accordance with procedures under section 25(d),
establish an advisory panel to provide advice to the Administrator on
scientific matters involved in the review.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F5A93124DAF40F19646BEF38199D646"><enum>(E)</enum><text>For purposes of
this paragraph, the term <term>plant-incorporated Bt pesticide</term> means a
plant-incorporated pesticide described in subparagraph
(A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H67672124B52A4C378F6DF747A4944867"><enum>108.</enum><header>Prohibition on
labeling certain seeds as non-genetically engineered</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A seed company or other person may not sell,
or offer for sale, seeds for planting that are labeled as non-genetically
engineered or otherwise represented as not containing genetically engineered
material if the Secretary finds that any sample of the seeds contains
genetically engineered material.</text>
</section><section id="H4A9737AA00154EC2899A39EEDC5F8D33"><enum>109.</enum><header>Prohibition on
certain non-fertile plant seeds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
effective 45 days after the date of the enactment of this title, a person may
not manufacture, distribute, sell, plant, or otherwise use any seed that is
genetically engineered to produce a plant whose seeds are not fertile or are
rendered infertile by the application of an external chemical inducer.</text>
</section><section id="H3E2B62C4DC76493B9EAAEA92FF7E8AD0"><enum>110.</enum><header>Prohibition on
loan discrimination</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A
financial institution may not discriminate against an agricultural producer
that refuses to use genetically engineered plants or animals or add as
condition to a loan the requirement that the producer use genetically
engineered plants or animals.</text>
</section><section id="H32E3F6E69BAA41ABBD9736A7F97085C5"><enum>111.</enum><header>Civil penalties
for violation</header>
<subsection id="H06AFF9D35F7744998B3E825DA3F46FE6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To
assess penalties</header><text>The Secretary may assess, by written order, a
civil penalty against a biotech company or other person that violates a
provision of this title, including a regulation promulgated or order issued
under this title. Each violation, and each day during which a violation
continues, shall be a separate offense.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC79B5D42591B4D438CAAD122667BBE6E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amount and
factors in assessing penalties</header><text>The maximum amount that may be
assessed under this section for a violation may not exceed $100,000. In
determining the amount of the civil penalty, the Secretary shall take into
account—</text>
<paragraph id="H5DEE160F86754F1E992AA530C066942F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the gravity of the
violation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H310E203775074DF3B82C781A1FBE6E38"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the degree of
culpability;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEEA79548B058455584B20940910B5B3F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the size and type
of the business; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA32E59CE72B14C0EAAF5F349D04211F5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any history of
prior offenses under this title or other laws administered by the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8EB536D4E8384931A98E48858026765E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Notice and
opportunity for hearing</header><text>The Secretary shall not assess a civil
penalty under this section against a biotech company or other person unless the
company is given notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record before the
Secretary in accordance with sections 554 and 556 of title 5, United States
Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEEBE94DD79DF4CB98F6B33821CF19C43"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H19E04077B8D84117A0D54DD1F36B01F3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An
order assessing a civil penalty against a person under subsection (a) may be
reviewed only in accordance with this subsection. The order shall be final and
conclusive unless the person—</text>
<subparagraph id="H70FE1BBE3C2E463E8433A10ED6C6B2D1" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 30 days after the
effective date of the order, files a petition for judicial review in the United
States court of appeals for the circuit in which the person resides or has its
principal place of business or in the United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDE63FC696F1941F7BC9DAD64EAB20A58" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>simultaneously sends a copy of the
petition by certified mail to the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H02FF4297E6764F849C216D2898A415A8" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary shall promptly file in
the court a certified copy of the record on which the violation was found and
the civil penalty assessed.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H78D883448D0A4EACAF1BAE1AE03FB04F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Collection
action for failure To pay assessment</header><text>If a person fails to pay a
civil penalty after the order assessing the civil penalty has become final and
unappealable, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Attorney General, who
shall bring a civil action to recover the amount of the civil penalty in United
States district court. In the collection action, the validity and
appropriateness of the order of the Secretary imposing the civil penalty shall
not be subject to review.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H8E16E5E0BE1D415C99A08AB69EDC6713"><enum>112.</enum><header>Citizen
suits</header>
<subsection id="H265C227D464B462DB521B6842FDDA947"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (c), any person may
commence a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States
against—</text>
<paragraph id="HF9842CE448924CACA52CECFFD241D4AF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a
person who has introduced a genetically engineered organism into the
environment without approval under this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD2BC9146242D4C4180F532B07297A880"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary,
where there is alleged a failure of the Secretary to perform any act or duty
under this title that is the responsibility of the Secretary and is not
discretionary; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3361F5E67D08484483E5E6CBEF1901F5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the head of
another Federal agency, if there is alleged a failure of the agency head to
perform any act or duty under this title that is the responsibility of the
agency head and is not discretionary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H28E39840B9984DBE96E737A7C0813EA5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>In
a civil action under this section, the district court involved may, as the case
may be—</text>
<paragraph id="H4FB90E43A966417394AE1D2DF504F687"><enum>(1)</enum><text>enforce the
compliance of a person with the applicable provisions referred to in the
complaint; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D93C5937B5D47F7B37F52683A44BF39"><enum>(2)</enum><text>order the
Secretary or the agency head to perform the act or duty referred to in the
complaint.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H98B9840CF5FA4ADA90E43F0DCDC7C91C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations</header>
<paragraph id="HC0549AA0DF6F4556A9019738726E5E6A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notice to
Secretary</header><text>A civil action may not be commenced under subsection
(a)(1) prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has provided to the Secretary
notice of the violation involved.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7F1B99320081459FAA2C840F0E59820F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Relation to
actions of Secretary</header><text>A civil action may not be commenced under
subsection (a)(1) against the Secretary if the Secretary has commenced and is
diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action in a district court of the
United States to enforce compliance with the applicable provisions referred to
in the complaint.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2A7846546AA14DB6BE4F43DCFDC7B999"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Right of
Secretary To intervene</header><text>In any civil action under subsection
(a)(1), the Secretary , if not a party, may intervene as a matter of
right.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9473E122704842AFBECBBF650FB06D22"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Award of costs;
filing of bond</header><text>In a civil action under subsection (a), the
district court involved may award costs of litigation (including reasonable
attorney and expert witness fees) to any party whenever the court determines
such an award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary restraining order
or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent
security in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H22DEA779D13E40F6954D5302BF03C406"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Savings
provision</header><text>This section does not restrict any right that a person
(or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law to seek
enforcement of the provisions of this title, or to seek any other relief
(including relief against the Secretary or the head of another Federal
agency).</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Genetically
engineered organism liability</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D2F156828BC4B9389BA43C006AA2D31" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited
as the <quote>Genetically Engineered Organism Liability Act of
2010</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HB91DE55B326A45BC8F9B1760E48E5027"><enum>202.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Congress finds the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H303C5EDE23C84FEE8BCDE3B323AC6768"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The negative
consequences of genetically engineered crops may impact farmers who grow these
crops, neighbor farmers who do not grow these crops, and consumers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H247BCAE0B1ED47CAAA429125973CA6C1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Biotech companies
are selling a technology that is being commercialized ahead of the new and
unknown science of genetic engineering.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9C692C76202246D19DB7887EC47B7CBD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Farmers may suffer
from crop failures, neighbor and nearby farmers may suffer from cross
pollination, increased insect resistance, and unwanted volunteer genetically
engineered plants, and consumers may suffer from health and environmental
impacts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDA9F44DE91044D90B51E81B7B373DCCC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Therefore, biotech
companies should be found liable for the failures of genetically engineered
crops when they arise.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HB3833E316B144A58BC7C701083CA97E4"><enum>203.</enum><header>Liability</header>
<subsection id="H4172BA491EBB40DEAA75D36693A9CF80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Cause of
action</header><text>A biotech company is liable to any party injured by the
release of a genetically engineered organism into the environment if that
injury results from that genetic engineering. The prevailing plaintiff in an
action under this subsection may recover reasonable attorney’s fees and other
litigation expenses as a part of the costs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H76461DA7F9D145FF81F09774510CD05B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Indemnity</header><text>For
the purposes of subsection (a), the term <term>injury</term> includes any
liability of a person who uses that organism in accordance with applicable
Federal and other law, if that liability arises from that use.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7CAB7010329C4C9CA6FA9739D9B04DF0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Not
waivable</header><text>The liability created by subsection (a) may not be
waived or otherwise avoided by contract.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8D065F95B8B5438BBBD8280AD9FC8309"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>As
used in this section, the term <term>biotech company</term> means a
person—</text>
<paragraph id="HC5D48966B47242C1A7C8F1001DC646B0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>engaged in the
business of genetically engineering an organism; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H255D4482779043C598B6D1143B9973B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>obtaining the
patent rights to such an organism for the purposes of commercial exploitation
of that organism.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>