Government to sign off GE decision but no announcement today

2.30 pm

The Government will today sign off its decision on New Zealand's genetic engineering future.

However, no announcement will be made until the Alliance and Green caucuses have discussed the decision at their weekly meetings tomorrow.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday indicated her Government believed it had found a way through what is a political minefield, believed to be that field trials of GE plants will be given the go-ahead but under strictly controlled conditions.

"We've found a practical and pragmatic way forward which preserves opportunities," she said.

"What's important is the knowledge economy, but as the Royal Commission said, caution is called for."

The Government has for the past three months been considering the finding of a $6.5 million Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, the recommendations of which included creating a new category for release.

That category, "controlled release", would mean organisms could be approved for release subject to conditions set by the Government or its Environmental Risk Management Authority, instead of the only current option of a release without controls.

Another recommendations was that the environment minister should make the decision on the first release of any GE crop, in recognition such a release would stop New Zealand being a GE-free nation.

The Government is understood to have decided there will have to be a lot more work done before GE crops are allowed to be released commercially, which would allow farmers to grow them.

As well, the voluntary moratorium on applications for field trials is not expected to be extended in its present form beyond the end of this month, when it is due to expire.

The Green Party, which provides crucial support for the Government on matters of supply and confidence, is strongly opposed to all forms of GE field trials. Without the Greens, the Labour/Alliance coalition does not have a majority of the votes in Parliament.

The Government and the Greens have been in a series of meetings on the GE issue in an effort to find a solution acceptable to all.

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons last week said she believed political differences on the issue could be resolved without threatening New Zealand's stability.

Meanwhile, GE-free campaigners gathered outside Parliament this morning, adorning the lawns with banners while two played subdued classical music in the grounds.

- NZPA

nzherald.co.nz/ge

Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification

GE lessons from Britain

GE links

GE glossary