Maine Biotechnology Information Bureau
Montville
The story of Montville, Maine . . .
Cemetary on Hogback Mountain in Montville
On March 29, 2008, voters at the Montville, Maine town meeting passed an ordinance that banned the planting of genetically engineered crops. The vote was the culmination of an effort by Food for Maine's Future to pass ordinances banning biotech crops around the state. The effort was patterned after a similar campaign conducted in Vermont. A guidebook was published to help local activists.

Biotech bans and Maine's "Right to Farm" law
The towns of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport were the first targets. In March of 2005, petitions requesting a vote on biotech crop bans were presented to town officials. The Maine Department of Agriculture reacted, sending a letter to town officials pointing out that the ordinances would violate Maine's right to farm laws. Both towns quickly dropped the proposed ordinances from the town meeting agends.

The threat of Ag. Dept. action caused Brooklin activists to change their ordinance to a "resolution" declaring the town to be a "GMO" free zone.  Because the "resolution" had no teeth, the Department of Agriculture sent no warning letter to the town. The town of Liberty passed a similar resolution.  Both "resolutions" are still on the books.

In 2006, Montville voters directed town officials to consider whether the Town's land use ordinances should contain "GMO free" restrictions. Two years later, the ordinance banning biotech crops from the town was enacted at town meeting.

Montville vs. the State of Maine
State officials quickly responded.  The Dept. of Agriculture sent a letter saying the ordinance violated Maine law because it had not been submitted to the Dept. for review. The Maine Board of Pesticides Control weighed in with a similar letter declaring the ordinance "null and void." Montville fired back with a letter to the Commissioner of Agriculture claiming "the Town of Montville has enacted a valid Municiple ordinance."

The stalemate remains unresolved.


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