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| GE Free
New Zealand in Food & Environment, 21st October
2004
Exports Threatened by National's 'Corngate' Policy
New Zealand's brand-reputation and exports will be threatened if
the National Party follows through on its minority-report on Corngate
and authorises the importation of GM-contaminated seed. Despite
a cross-party consensus on recommendations in response to Corngate,
in their minority-response National MP's say they will allow thresholds
of contamination in seed.
The Select Committee report says National MP's believe a "tolerance
level of GM content should be permitted for seed imports at the
border" and that the HSNO Act should be modified to allow cabinet
to authorise 'practical tolerance.'
This would give up on New Zealand's current zero-contamination standard
that does not allow importation of contaminated seed. It also contradicts
the Select Committee recommendation that best-practice systems are
needed to address "the commercial trade risks to the integrity
of the New Zealand Brand" (Rec. 2c) There have already been
a few incidents where NZ exports have been rejected by export-markets
overseas because of trace GM-contaminants. This would become a flood
of rejection if National follows its policy.
This is a real threat to New Zealand's economy. The Sustainability
Council of New Zealand has warned that our most important markets
reject even trace-GM contamination and independent research with
EU importers confirms this. "It will destroy our reputation
for quality-food and force us to compete as a producer of second-rate
GM-contaminated commodities, " says Jon Carapiet from GE-free
NZ in food and environment.
There is no justification
for National's proposals given improved testing regimes such as
the leaf-disc test pioneered by Pacific Seeds in New Zealand which
weeds out GM contamination each season. Failure to adopt these non-proprietary
systems is negligent and warrants prosecution of companies knowingly
importing contaminated seed, not official endorsement by National.
The National Party's policy sells out our farmers and food-manufacturers
to benefit a small cartel in the biotech industry who will be able
to sell contaminated -seed and not take the effort to maintain segregation.
"Unnecessary acceptance of GM seed contamination is tantamount
to sabotage of our clean-green position in the global market,"
says Mr Carapiet. "If this is Dr Brash's intention he and his
colleagues must front up and justify how this is in any way in the
country's interest."
ENDS
Jon Carapiet 021 050 7681
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