CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Anti-Pesticide Measures Compete

Backers of a sweeping environmental protection initiative that includes strong safeguards against pesticides in food charged that key sections of a rival initiative, advanced by farmers and food producers, were actually proposed by pesticide manufacturers. State Atty . Gen. John K. Van de Kamp, Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) and the Natural Resources Defense Council charged that the rival “wholesome food” initiative contains far weaker protections against pesticide poisoning in foods than their proposed “Environmental Protection Act of 1990.” When farmers and others announced their “wholesome food” measure last month they said the chemical industry was not a part of their coalition. But, Van de Kamp and Hayden said they have obtained internal campaign documents that indicate that the agricultural chemical industry is heavily involved. The charges were denied by the Western Agricultural Chemicals Assn. and two campaign consulting firms involved in the issue. Both initiatives are proposed for next November’s ballot.