Posted on 24-1-2003

Swiss Go GE Free

As well as leading the world in competitive sailing the Swiss are set to
lead the way for GE-Free agriculture after Farmers voted to support a 5
year moratorium on GE agriculture in Switzerland. The decision by the Swiss
Farmers Union to back a referendum for a 5-year moratorium on GE releases
shows that both consumers and farmers are becoming increasingly aware of
the benefits and opportunities for GE-Free food production. "We hope New
Zealand farmers will take heed of what their colleagues in Europe are
doing" says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ (in food and environment). "Even
if bodies like Federated Farmers are supportive of GE release, there is
growing evidence that it will damage our economy and international
marketing image as well as pollute conventional agricultural systems".

GE-Free NZ believe the New Zealand government can and must preserve the
opportunities identified by the Royal Commission by keeping applications of
Genetic Modification in containment, and only allowing ethical uses. " This
will keep our food and environment GE-free while still benefiting from the
knowledge of genetics our scientists are developing. We do not need to
release GE organisms with antibiotic marker genes and viral promoters. Even
companies like Monsanto are accepting safer GE techniques such as assisted
gene marking to help cross-breed the best stock without genetically
engineering them," says Mr Carapiet.

The Swiss moratorium is likely to will be put to a vote later this year but
a similar vote in new Zealand is not yet on the cards. " I am not sure the
New Zealand government need to bother with a referendum on a 5-year
moratorium. It is obvious that a moratorium is needed based on the
scientific evidence emerging over the last few years. The Royal Commission
showed most people want to protect our GE-Free option. If the government go
for commercial GE release they will destroy that option step by step, case
by case", says Mr Carapiet. "What is needed is legislation to prevent GE
release and preserve our opportunities. This is what the country will be
looking for in the coming months when the Government releases its
Biotechnology strategy and when MAF announce how they will manage
"Co-existence" to ensure New Zealand's seed, soil, honey and food exports
stay clean of GE contamination.

Contact Jon Carapiet 09 815 3370