Anti-GE group to take case to Supreme Court

An anti-genetic engineering (GE) group wants to take the State science researcher to the Supreme Court after its bid to block transgenic livestock research was thrown out.

The Court of Appeal yesterday overturned a High Court decision to block four applications by AgResearch to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) to use animals to make a range of medical and health products.

GE Free NZ spokeswoman Claire Bleakley said today the lobby group was now looking to take the case to the Supreme Court.

"The appeal court decision...means Erma is free to accept applications from anyone to modify an animal with any genetic trait, in any way, anytime and forever.

"This cannot have been the intention of Parliament."

The decision "could destroy the foundations of New Zealand's economy by opening the floodgates for GE animals in New Zealand", Ms Bleakley said.

AgResearch wants to modify livestock to produce antigens, biopharmaceuticals, enzymes, hormones and other products with possible health benefits and commercial applications.

It also wants to import small animals, and micro-oganisms, and use cell-lines from them as research models for livestock.

- NZPA