KEY POINTS:
A court room battle over a 0.4 hectare vege patch began in Wellington today.
GE Free NZ argued in the High Court that Crop and Food Research is not monitoring the adverse effects of a trial of genetically engineered vegetables which has already begun on a 0.4 hectare plot in the Lincoln area.
The cauliflowers, cabbages, broccoli and forage kale, known as brassicas, contain genes derived from soil bacterium to counter pests.
A sole protester was outside the court today and Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons also put in an appearance before the case began.
Thomas Bennion, appearing for GE Free NZ, told Justice Jill Mallon that crop testing was like drug testing except "the patient is the environment".
His clients had no confidence that adverse effects would be monitored during the 10-year trial.
"The appeal arises from concern that field trials might be conducted without the ability to require monitoring for adverse effects," he said.
The issue of potential escape of organisms had been addressed in the approval process for the field test.
"This is about the testing one should do within the trial," Mr Bennion said.
Crop and Food is represented by Jane Costigan. The Environment Risk Management Authority (Erma) and Organics Aotearoa and BioGro NZ also have lawyers representing them.
The case tests the workings of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act, the enabling legislation for Erma.
"We are not seeking to say that Erma must micro-manage field tests. We are saying that field tests have to include some relevant and scientifically meaningful testing for adverse effects," Mr Bennion said.
GE Free NZ is concerned that if a trial does not include testing for adverse effects the crops could proceed to the next stage of conditional release without such testing.
"It is a problem in policy terms if field tests don't have tests for adverse effects," he said.
- NZPA
