Testimony Given on GMO Bills, Will Resume Friday

The County Council’s Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit today heard nearly five hours of testimony on proposed legislation that would limit the growing of genetically modified crops on the Big Island.

At the suggestion of committee Chairwoman Brenda Ford, time allotted each testifier was limited to two minutes, one minute less than usually allowed at council and committee meetings.

In another departure from typical procedures, those testifying were not allowed additional time to testify on separate bills.

The committee previously heard four days of testimony on a previous bill that would regulate crops of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, before that measure was withdrawn in early August.

Testimony is again being accepted because two new versions of the bill have been introduced.

Committee members agreed to resume the testimony portion of the meeting at 8 a.m. Friday.