GM law 'could hit vaccines'

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Law changes relating to genetic modification could result in a ban on some vaccines, a blood clot-busting drug and insulin unless the wording in proposed amendments are tightened, a pro-GM lobby group claims.

The Life Sciences Network expressed concern at a parliamentary select committee hearing yesterday that definitions of xenotransplantation and "living biological material" might unintentionally "capture" important medicines.

The network's chairman, Dr William Rolleston, highlighted the polio vaccine, insulin and a drug used to dissolve blood clots after heart surgery as those which could be caught up unintentionally in the changes.

"To me it [the proposed wording] would capture those sorts of things. I would hope that it doesn't, but it may well do. It's something the committee needs to consider."

Finance and expenditure select committee chairman Mark Peck was concerned at the suggestion from Dr Rolleston and called for a report on the definitions in the proposed amendments to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.

The changes were designed to extend until at least June 2003 a ban on procedures such as the use of insulin-producing cells from the pancreas of newborn piglets to treat diabetes.

The ban is to address concerns that pig viruses could spread into people.

But Dr Rolleston said other procedures might be caught, depending on the definition of "living" material as described in the proposed legislative amendments.

"Biopharmaceuticals that have an action in humans could also come under that definition," he said.

"I'm only highlighting this as something the committee should consider. It could be a trap that, as the legislation goes through, we could fall into."

The committee also heard from representatives of Biotenz, an organisation representing the biotechnology sector. Biotenz was critical of the Government's proposed constraints on the release of genetically modified organisms.

The organisation's chairman, Bill Falconer - a former chairman of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, which handles the regulatory process - said the decision to restrict applications for the release of GM organisms was being made for political rather than scientific or safety reasons.

The decision also contradicted the Government's assertion that it wanted to promote biotechnology as a major driver of the innovation and knowledge economy, Mr Falconer said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark this week released the Government's long-term economic vision, which emphasises the importance of biotechnology.

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