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GE Free New Zealand in Food &
Environment, 22nd December 2003 ERMA decision fails the test of good science ERMA's decision on GE onions is unscientific one and adds to public concern that the ERMA system is failing. Comments from ERMA Chairman Neil Walker in news coverage of Monday's press conference suggest their decision was influenced by an aim to foster agribiotech - even if the science doesn't work. ERMA seems to be trying to send positive signals to a few scientists who would otherwise be upset by a different outcome. This is wrong as it damages proper science, and the standing of the scientific community, for ERMA to try to "please" industry by a flawed decision. The approval reveals serious information gaps, which ERMA is unable to fill. Claims that these trials are a "platform" for research have been accepted by ERMA with no detail of who will do this research, what will be studied, or who will fund it. In reality any useful research will be the responsibility of the yet-to-be identified partners and researchers, who will be piggy-backing on this unnecessary Crop and Food field-trial. There is no word about where the money will come from. Data from previous field trials is kept secret. Basic research into the toxicology of GE onions has not been done, so the reasonable approach is for ERMA to demand proper feeding studies with GE onions produced in containment before taking the risk of open-field trials. No real scientific program has yet been proposed that would reveal any important new knowledge. "ERMA has been asked to reassess the decision and not push on with approvals when they themselves admit trials will deliver no useful data and since the main objective has already been found to fail", says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment. The latest US report shows the increased use of sprays with herbicide resistant crops, contrary to Crop and Food claims. "They have done such experiments for years. Its a kind of scientific gravy-train and it is likely that in ten years this experiment will still not have identified any meaningful data on the environmental effects of commercial grown GE onions, or health effects on animals and humans from eating them," says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment. ERMA�s decision fails to reflect the cultural shift that echoes through many communities now opposing GE field release in New Zealand. Jon Carapiet- 09 815 3370 Back to Press Release Directory
NEW US Data on GM crops |
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GE-Free New Zealandin food and environment (RAGE Inc.) |