HONOLULU (AP) — A federal appeals court will hear arguments as it considers regulations on genetically engineered crops and pesticides in three Hawaii counties.
The case opens Wednesday before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Honolulu.
Hawaii, Kauai and Maui counties all have ordinances that seek to regulate or ban genetically modified products.
Agrichemical companies and trade associations sued each county, and federal court rulings sided with the businesses. The Hawaii counties are appealing to the 9th Circuit.
A judge ruled last June that federal and state law pre-empts a Maui County ban on cultivating genetically engineered crops, making it invalid.
Monsanto and Dow Chemical both have research farms in that county.
