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| GE Free
New Zealand in Food & Environment, 02nd September
2004
MAF's Plans for GE thresholds Threaten NZ's Economy
Plans to start allowing GE contamination of New Zealand's agricultural
sector have been delayed, but by conspiring to lower bio-security
standards MAF are putting at risk New Zealand's economic wellbeing.
Radio NZ reported this morning that the proposal to allow GM corn
seeds to be planted, if present at low levels, has been delayed
because seed for next season will arrive before legislation could
be changed.
MAF's
efforts to undermine New Zealand's zero-tolerance for illegal GE
release are of ongoing concern and seriously threaten livelihoods
of maize farmer seeking to produce GE-free maize. Experience with
soy signals that GE -free maize can and will command a premium in
the global market as manufacturers seek to avoid GE crops.
MAF's plan to effectively authorise GE contamination is unwarranted
and throws away the significant economic benefits to New Zealand
of being a GE-free primary producer.
Plans to “allow EU standards” when these are agreed
also positions New Zealand as “just another supplier of commodities”
rather than the world-class producer of clean food which New Zealand
must be if it is to compete in the world market.
"MAF's agenda is criminal in its irresponsibility," says
Jon Carapiet from GE FREE NZ in food and environment.
"The costs of ameliorating occasional accidental contamination
are insignificant compared with the economic benefits of preserving
our biosecurity".
Allowing GE contamination also makes no sense scientifically as
it fails to recognise the lack of testing of so-called "overseas
approved" GE crops. Even worse is the emergence of Pharmaceutical
crops that have already contaminated US food-crops.
" MAF need to recognise that even small levels of GE contamination
could be a serious threat to public health and the environment,
especially if the contamination is of a pharmaceutical variant,"
says Mr Carapiet.
" We are concerned MAF are ill-equipped and underfunded, and
may lack the motivation to take the threat seriously.”
"It is time to look at financial instruments to promote compliance
with the law as are considered in a new report looking at regulation
of hazardous substances under HSNO," says Mr Carapiet.
Over recent years MAF has delayed introducing more rigorous testing
of imported seeds likely to be at risk and it was only as a result
of public lobbying that tests have been improved. However, they
still fall short of the ideal and MAF must be held responsible for
breaches of the law that happen as a result of their inadequate
monitoring.
Contact Jon Carapiet 021 050 7681
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