Georgia Consumer Health Groups Hoping Governor Will Veto Pesticide Labeling Bill

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Some Georgians are calling on Gov. Brian Kemp to veto a bill that just passed through the state House and Senate.

Senate Bill 144 would shield pesticide and fertilizer companies from lawsuits beyond federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warnings.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, is a vegetable farmer who lives in south Georgia.

He said the legislation is a labeling bill and that EPA standards would still apply.

“The label is the law,” Watson said. “The EPA approves the label, and they’re not going to let any manufacturer put anything on the label that they don’t say is OK to put on the label.”

Consumer health groups in Georgia opposed it. Nicole Johnson testified before the House Judiciary Committee.