Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
FIC joins Kauai residents in expressing outrage over a judge’s ruling yesterday regarding a lawsuit to block implementation of the County’s pesticide transparency law. Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren ruled that Ordinance 960, which requires chemical companies to disclose pesticide use information and create buffer zones around sensitive areas, is pre-empted by state law.
The good news is that the judge also ruled that Ordinance 960 is NOT pre-empted by federal law, and there will likely be an appeal. The battle for chemical company accountability isn’t over.
FIC continues to work with local groups on the ground in Kauai who are fighting for their health and safety. We’ve been investigating what influence the chemical companies may have improperly asserted over Kauai government officials during debate of the law before it was enacted.
Stay tuned for future updates on the fight to protect Kauai and its residents from the effects of toxic pesticides. This is only the beginning.
Meanwhile, get the full story on pesticide use in Hawaii.
Sarah Damian is Communications Manager for the Food Integrity Campaign.