Terms decided for GE corn inquiry

A select committee will investigate the Government's actions when it discovered an alleged accidental release of genetically modified corn seed and will look into the regime used to test for GM contamination.

The local government and environment select committee yesterday released the terms of reference for the inquiry, expected to begin in February.

Committee chairwoman and Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said they were wide enough to reveal the truth behind suspicions that GM-contaminated corn was planted in 2000.

Author Nicky Hager alleged in his book Seeds of Distrust, published in July, that the Government had attempted to cover up a release of GM corn.

The committee will look at:

* The extent that biosecurity measures controlled the risk of GM contamination for sweetcorn imports, and how these controls compared with New Zealand's major trading partners.

* The likelihood the Novartis sweetcorn was GM-contaminated and the adequacy of testing.

* Government departments and agencies' processes in advising of suspected contamination.

* The scientific evidence relied on when decisions were made over the batch of seeds.

* Whether the Government had accepted a contamination tolerance level in 2000 and what part that played.

* Whether the public, interested parties, the Cabinet and the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification were adequately informed.

* The role of private companies.

* Compliance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.

- NZPA

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