Citing possible harm to Hawaii`s 329 endangered and threatened species, a federal district judge has ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in permitting the cultivation of drug-producing, genetically engineered crops throughout Hawaii. The plaintiffs call for a moratorium on pharma-crop releases. Judge J. Michael Seabright ordered the parties to appear in court on August 22, 2006, to discuss remedies.</p><p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/15/AR2006081501053.html">Gene-Altered Crops Denounced</a></p><p><a href="http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/Hawaii%20biopharm%20crop%20judgement%20Aug%2010,%202006.cfm">CFS: First Ever Ruling on Controversial Drug-Producing GE Crops</a>