New Zealand backs GM drive

By ANNE BESTON

New Zealand is backing an American move to pressure European countries into accepting genetically modified food and crops.

GM opponents have condemned New Zealand's involvement in the US action, which is aimed at forcing the European Union to lift a five-year moratorium on GM foods or face trade sanctions under World Trade Organisation rules.

Argentina, Canada and Egypt have signed up with the US, and the major agricultural exporters of the WTO - New Zealand, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay - have joined in as "third parties".

The acting Minister for Trade Negotiations, Phil Goff, said New Zealand was taking part in the WTO case to protect its interests.

"Our participation does not mean that we wish to promote New Zealand exports of GM crops," he said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark also played down New Zealand's involvement, saying it was designed to make sure trading partners implemented food standards based on "thorough scientific evidence and risk analysis".

"The EU, like the United States, like New Zealand, has very stringent food-safety standards, but I don't think this is an issue of food safety," she said.

"I think it is an issue of a de facto moratorium that has gone on and on, and doesn't seem to be based on thorough scientific evidence and risk analysis."

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said it had been known for some time that the US was threatening to take Europe to the WTO disputes panel, but New Zealand's involvement was a "bombshell".

"I'm staggered New Zealand has gone as far as supporting the US on this," she said.

"We have aligned ourselves with the most extreme version of free trade, which says you will have GE food stuffed down your throats whether you want it or not."



Surveys in Europe have found that more than 70 per cent of people say they will not buy GM products.

The EU is developing tough labelling regulations for genetically modified products, something which worries US farmers.

And it says it does not have a moratorium but stringent food-safety rules.



EU health commissioner David Byrne said the American move was "eccentric".

"It seems to me to be a strange decision to take at this time, in view of the fact that we are now in the last stage of putting in place our legislation which will enable us to resume authorisations [of genetically modified food]," he said.

But the US says Europe's laws on genetically modified foods and crops are effectively a trade barrier.

Its WTO representative, Robert Zoellick, said America had run out of patience after years of European procrastination.

New Zealand anti-GM groups yesterday called on the Government to explain its action.

Sustainability Council chairman Sir Peter Elworthy questioned why New Zealand was joining a fight that "pits us against our biggest trading partner over products we don't even grow".

"How are New Zealand's interests advanced by backing America's fight to tell Europeans what they should eat?" he said.

Sir Peter said the Government's action was "advertising New Zealand's support" for growing GM food before any release of a genetically modified crop had been approved here.

Ms Fitzsimons said the Government's action seemed to be "yes, all the way with GM and no concessions to anyone on the way".





Under WTO rules, the United States and the EU have 60 days to hold talks before a disputes panel is set up.

If a panel decision went in favour of the US, it could seek hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and impose tariffs on EU goods, making them less attractive in the American market.