HortResearch says gene-trial site free of risk

The crown research institute HortResearch last night confirmed it would clean up land used for growing genetically modified tamarillos.

But the organisation insisted that the trial site in the Bay of Islands had never, and still did not, present any continuing risk.

But it had offered to temporarily cover and fumigate the site using the teargas ingredient chloropicrin to mitigate any perceived risk to the soil environment.

Science general manager John Shaw said neither HortResearch nor the Environmental Risk Management Authority believed there was any scientific reason for the fumigation.

"However, we are sensitive to public concern and have agreed to this course of action to put minds at ease," said Dr Shaw.

His comments followed a report in the Herald yesterday which disclosed the clean-up plan.

The site would be monitored until January 2003.

In Parliament, Environment Minister Marian Hobbs confirmed that chloropicrin would be used.

Chloropicrin is available only to commercial agricultural users and has been registered as a pesticide and used to sterilise soil in New Zealand since the 1960s.

This month, 21 people, including two firefighters and an ambulance officer, needed hospital treatment after an orchardist in Clive, near Hastings, used chloropicrin.

- NZPA

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