GE Free NZ

GE Free New Zealand in Food & Environment, 29th October 2003

Anger as ERMA reveals planning for GE release

ERMA has deliberately lied to the New Zealand public again. ERMA has, before the end of the moratorium signaled that they are in pre application talks for a conditional release of GEO's.

This is a breaking of trust between the government and public who were assured that a rush of
release applications were not to be seen within two years.

Marian Hobbs has just signaled that we will be guaranteed a GE Free future where conventional and organic farming systems are protected. The complicity and lies and accusations set up by the government show that the public cannot trust what they say.

This week the government hinted at some conspiracy by concerned consumers after Japan returned a large batch of GE contaminated dough. Marian Hobbs even went so far as to accuse Greenpeace of colluding as to the timing of the event.

This was yet again blaming others for something over which people have no control, but government instead are ignoring their own duties to the country.

"Why are the concerned consumers being blamed for corporate mistakes," said Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in food and environment. "The lack of liability and the cover-ups by GE apologists who continue to vilify the science revealing the dangers of GE is not going to convince the public to accept GEO's"

GE Free NZ in food and environment asks that the Minister call in the proposed application until the public is assured that ERMA is able to do its job, that GE-free production systems will remain protected, and until there has been an independent audit to show that ERMA has amended all the 49 review recommendations.

Contact Claire Bleakley-06 308 9842

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