Reuters | October 30, 2001
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- The New Zealand government confirmed Tuesday it would legislate to stop the commercial release of genetically modified organisms (GMO) into the New Zealand environment for two more years.
But it would lift a 16-month ban on field trials of the organisms, which biotech opponents have branded dangerous "frankenfoods" that should be kept in the laboratory.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the lifting of the ban on applications for GMO experiments in the field, or outside the laboratory, would go hand-in-hand with new rules to ensure materials used in the research were later destroyed or locked away.
Announcing the government's formal response to a Royal Commission of Inquiry into GMOs completed in June, Clark said research proposals would be examined on a case-by-case basis but New Zealand biotechnology must not fall behind.
"We cannot stop science in its tracks. But science must accept appropriate controls in the public interest," she told a media briefing.
SCIENCE OR FRANKENFOODS?
Researchers around the world are modifying the genetic make-up of agricultural products to improve their resistance to pests, disease and weather, and to increase crop yields -- but critics argue they should be kept out of the food chain.
However, passage through Parliament of legislation to impose the two-year constraint period is uncertain.
Clark said that not all 49 MPs of her center-left Labor Party backed the government policy -- some indigenous Maori MPs object to genetic modification for religious and cultural reasons.
The transfer of genes between unrelated plants, animals and humans was a threat to human existence, said Mita Ririnui, who chairs a group of Labour's Maori MPs.
"To interfere with a life form is disrespectful and is another form of cultural arrogance," he said in a statement.
The environmentalist Greens, who support the minority Labor-Alliance coalition on budget issues and in confidence votes, last week said their seven votes could not be taken for granted on "core Green issues."
But the Greens later said they would not bring the government down by voting against it in a confidence motion.
Any shortfall in support could see the center-left coalition, which has 59 votes in the 120-seat single-chamber parliament, looking to other parties for support to pass the legislation.
Around 42 percent of New Zealand's NZ$31.5 billion of annual exports involve food, but anti-GMO activists say the South Pacific country of 3.8 million people and 44 million sheep, should sell itself as clean, green and free of GMOs.
Government officials say no fresh meat, fruit, or vegetables currently sold in New Zealand are genetically modified -- which involves moving genes within or between species, or changing their function -- but processed foods may contain imported genetically altered ingredients such as canola oil and soya flour.
SCIENCE LAGGARD
Scientists have warned that without GMO research and trials New Zealand is likely to be left behind while the country's largest company -- dairy processor Fonterra Co-operative Group -- has warned it could move its research activities offshore if GMO research was curtailed.
But Clark said Fonterra would not relocate any research on the basis of the response, which would ensure New Zealand food exports continued to be seen as safe.
Fonterra said it accepted the new policy but pointed out the restrictions went beyond "sound science and common sense."
The NZ Life Sciences Network, a biotech industry group, said the decision was pragmatic and a victory for common sense.
Copyright 2001, Reuters, All Rights Reserved
