This is from Rep. Hogg about the GMO Seed Bill

Preemption Of Local Seed Regulation.

Yesterday, the House voted 70-27 to "preempt" or prohibit local regulation
of agricultural seeds.  HF642 would prevent cities and counties from
adopting regulations or zoning to control the types of seeds used within
their jurisdiction.

HF642 has three basic flaws:

First, it is unclear what problem it is attempting to solve.  To date, no
Iowa city or county has adopted any seed regulation or zoning.  Only two
cities - Fairfield and Vedic City - have expressed interest in adopting such
regulations.  That hardly warrants state preemption.

Second, no state regulation has been proposed in lieu of local regulation.
Ordinarily, when the state preempts local regulation, it does so to enact
comprehensive state regulation - but as the floor manager admitted yesterday
in response to my questions, there is currently no state regulation of
agricultural seeds.

Third, and most seriously, HF642 would take away the ability of local
communities by zoning to set aside "identity-preserved agricultural areas"
to meet the demands of food consumers in the 21st century.

Rep. Mark Kuhn (D-Charles City) explained how consumers around the world are
willing to pay a premium for "identity-preserved" organic crops or crops
free of genetically modified organisms.  One tool that local governments
could use to meet this market is to create "identity-preserved areas" zoning
which, under this bill, would no longer be available.  You can help stop
HF642 by contacting Senators of both parties and encouraging them to defeat
HF642, and by contacting Governor Vilsack to ask him to veto the measure if
passed.

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