Posted on 4-8-2003

Greens Bill Aims At Freeze On GE Moratorium

Green MP Ian Ewen-Street has entered a private members bill into todays
ballot that would extend the moratorium on the commercial release of
genetically modified material until 31 October, 2008.

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Moratorium Extension) Amendment
Bill would extend by five years the date upon which the Environmental Risk
Management Authority (ERMA) may consider applications for the release of
genetically engineered organisms into the environment. At this stage, we
simply do not know what effect the release of GE organisms will have on our
environment,Said Mr Ewen-Street. The research commissioned by the
government in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on
Genetic Modification still has a long way to go. For example, the research
into soil ecosystems and horizontal gene transfer is still several years
from completion. It would be crazy to allow the moratorium to expire
without knowing the results of this research and it would also be
inconsistent with Government policy to allow GE to proceed with caution. It
would be environmentally and economically irresponsible to lift the
moratorium at this stage, with research either incomplete or suggesting
dire effects on our burgeoning organic industry and agricultural exports.
Nor have the issues of contamination and liability been addressed.

The Royal Commission recommended that the Government should proceed with
caution,said Mr Ewen-Street. That is exactly what this Bill sets out to
achieve.

Mr Ewen-Streets is the second Green private members bill in the ballot to
deal with GE issues.

Sue Kedgley's Consumers Right to Know (Food Information) Bill would extend
GE labelling to cover all foods and ingredients made with gene technology.
It also requires the labelling of GE animal feed and would enshrine in law
the concept of consumer's right to know what is in the food they're eating.