GM commission sets submission deadline

The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification says it will give "interested persons" a total of 13 weeks to participate in its formal hearings, which include two weeks of final submissions.

The commission's sittings will start in Wellington on October 16 and finish on March 23 next year.

So far, the commission has invited 109 interested persons who will have special status - including the right to make oral submissions and to cross-examine witnesses - to the hearings.

The 109 approvals were made from 265 applications. Another 21 late applications - including those from the Human Rights Commission and the Environment Ministry - will be heard on Tuesday.

All written submissions from interested persons will have to be submitted by October 30.

The commission's deputy chairman, Bishop Richard Randerson, said the process differed in some ways from what the commission had announced on August 7, but adjustments had been made as a result of feedback from "scoping meetings."

Guidelines for written submissions from those refused "interested person status" and other ordinary members of the public will be released shortly.

Their submissions will have to be made by December 1. The commission will also rely on information obtained through written material, public meetings and hui.

Witnesses will not be required to give evidence on oath and will generally be allowed no longer than one sitting day for their submission.

The commission says that people wanting to present their views in Maori will have to contact its staff first to make sure that translators will be available.

- NZPA

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