GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISMS - S.B. 228: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
sans-serif">Senate Bill 228 (as introduced 2-27-03)
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Animal Industry Act to prohibit a person from importing into this State a genetically engineered organism (GEO) that was a variant of an animal species, from an area under quarantine, without the permission of the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture. The bill also provides that an order of the Director prohibiting the importation of a species, or requiring compliance with certain requirements, would apply to a GEO that was a variant of the species identified in the order, unless it provided otherwise.
The bill would define “genetically engineered organism” as “an organism whose genome, chromosomal or extrachromosomal, is modified permanently and heritably using recombinant nucleic acid techniques”. “Recombinant nucleic acid techniques” would mean “laboratory techniques through which genetic material is isolated and manipulated in vitro and then inserted into an organism”.
The Act prohibits a person from importing into this State an animal species from an area under quarantine for that species for any infectious, contagious, or toxicological disease, unless the Director grants permission. Under the bill, this also would apply to a genetically engineered organism that was a variant of the species.
In addition, the Act prohibits the importation of any species having the potential to spread serious diseases or parasites, to cause serious physical harm, or otherwise to endanger native wildlife, human life, livestock, domestic animals, or property, as determined by the Director. The bill states that an order of the Director under this provision would apply to any GEO that was a variant of the species identified in the order, unless it expressly provided otherwise.
Under the Act, the Director may require compliance with requirements pertaining to physical examination, negative test results, and/or identification, before the importation of a wild animal or an exotic animal species not regulated by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of Interior or the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The bill specifies that an order of the Director under this provision would apply to any genetically engineered organism that was a variant of the species identified in the order, unless it expressly provided otherwise.
MCL 287.704 et al. - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Bethany WicksallS0304\s228sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.