Way cleared for GM crops

By ANNE BESTON and FRANCESCA MOLD

New genetically modified crops will be in the ground by Christmas after the Government overruled opposition from its Maori MPs to reopen the door to field trials.

The long-awaited Government response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification came as a voluntary ban on applications for field trials was due to expire today.

The decision allows medical and laboratory experiments and reopens field trials but bans commercial releases of genetically modified organisms for two years.

It walks a fine line between scientific and economic demands and a need for assurances to the public that the environment will not be put at risk.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said science was critical to ensuring New Zealand developed a knowledge-based economy.

"We cannot afford to turn our back on science, which has the potential to inform our medical, biotechnology and industry strategies, but nor can we ignore the concerns raised about aspects of genetic modification," she said yesterday.

With the voluntary ban over, the Coalition has ruled that scientists can make fresh applications for field tests of GM organisms under stringent conditions designed to avoid contamination.

The decision means 10 field trials of genetically modified plants might go ahead within the next year.

They include GM trials of potatoes, sugarbeet and peas (Hawkes Bay, Canterbury), pine trees (Rotorua), petunias (Manawatu) and maize (Waikato).

Yesterday's decision - denounced by Labour's Maori caucus and the Green Party - will force researchers to contain or destroy plants with reproductive material, remove contaminated soil and ensure that all trials are strictly monitored.

Legislation banning commercial release of GM products for two years will be introduced to give the Government time to research socio-economic, ethical and environmental concerns. However, the law will lapse after two years unless the Government renews it.

The Greens and the Alliance have vowed to fight to extend the ban. Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons went further yesterday, saying a continuation of a ban on commercial release would be a condition of the party joining any future Labour-led coalition.

The royal commission had recommended that the first commercial release be subject to ministerial approval. But Helen Clark said that would have left the Government "like a possum in the headlights", because it would have needed more time to research the issues raised by the commission.

Before making its announcement the Government faced a threat of revolt by Labour's Maori MPs, who walked out of a caucus meeting to discuss the decision, which they felt failed to address their spiritual and cultural concerns.

Helen Clark admitted Labour's ranks were not unanimous.

"Maori members of Parliament have bought into a process," she said. "They understand that legislation as it's drafted will be fully inclusive and will include a stronger Treaty [of Waitangi] reference than is there at the moment. On that basis we're working as a partnership to take the legislation through."

She said the announcement would not satisfy everyone. "It is simply not possible to do so when the extremes of the debate are so polarised."

National leader Bill English said Maori MPs had been "walked all over" by giving in to the decision. "They have discredited themselves and the people they represent."

The Government has dealt with some concerns from Maori by creating a Bioethics Council to advise on cultural, ethical and spiritual issues.

Treaty of Waitangi clauses in the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act will also be strengthened.

Labour's Maori MPs issued a press statement saying: "We are not opposed to science. We are concerned about the dangers of compromising the social, cultural and environmental integrity of our country for short-term commercial gain."

The Alliance claimed that the Coalition's decision was a victory in terms of meeting the party's policy on GM. "This policy is a safe, sensible and smart basis for the future social, economic and environmental development of New Zealand," leader Jim Anderton said.

The Greens warned that the GM debate would become a major election issue and any future coalition would hinge on the Government's agreeing to a tougher stance on GM.

Ms Fitzsimons said the party had not signed up to the Government's package and would continue to fight for a GM-free future.

But scientists were happy with the decision. The head of science at HortResearch, John Shaw, said the crown-owned institute was "quietly optimistic" that the new rules would work but was worried that anti-GM groups would hijack the public hearings process through the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma), which is responsible for approving GM trials.

"I don't take any comfort from the Greens' statement basically saying they are going to challenge approvals through Erma," Dr Shaw said. "That will mean increasing costs and increasing timelines."

A genetic engineering manager at the Forest Research Institute in Rotorua, Christian Walter, said he hoped to have between 300 and 500 genetically modified baby pine trees planted by the end of the year in a 1ha field near the institute's base.

"We are pretty happy with the situation," Dr Walter said.

"It's great to see we will be able to carry out our field trials, and after all the scaremongering we're happy with the leadership the Government has shown."

Full text of the Prime Minister's statement on GE

nzherald.co.nz/ge

Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification

GE lessons from Britain

GE links

GE glossary