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Agriculture officials say testing has confirmed that 1807kg of sweetcorn seed planted on Hawkes Bay and Gisborne farms must be ripped out.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry yesterday said tests showed 258.4ha of sweetcorn had been planted on 18 properties from shipments of a Jubilee Plus/Dominion cultivar which had been contaminated with genetically engineered seed.
The ministry said two other suspect shipments, used to plant 108.5ha of sweetcorn in mid-Canterbury, and 6.4ha of a cultivar known as GH2042 at Gisborne had been cleared of contamination and could stay.
The clearance was given on the basis of three negative results to tests for GE content carried out before MAF's investigation being launched.
"MAF usually only requires one negative test result," the ministry said.
"These consignments were originally accompanied by incorrect documentation."
MAF said it did not yet know what the genetic alteration in the affected consignments had been intended to achieve.
American seed supplier Syngenta was doing additional tests to find out.
It also announced an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the GE imports, to be led by a former secretary for the Justice Department, David Oughton. He will deliver an initial report by Christmas.
The ministry said it was taking a close interest in the extent to which the seed company compensated affected growers.
"MAF is interested in the discussions between Syngenta and affected parties regarding contracting arrangements and possible compensation," a statement said.
"MAF does not wish to see growers disadvantaged as a result of this situation."
Other commentators have said some growers may instead expect to be compensated by MAF if their crops are destroyed under the Biosecurity Act.
Syngenta said the test results indicated a low level of GE content in some of the Jubilee Plus/Dominion seed and that it would "meet its obligations" in the affair.
As the plants are still immature, there is no risk of cross-pollination to other plants or crops. A total of 3220kg of Jubilee Plus/Dominion seeds were imported, and 1907.5kg had been sown.
Syngenta's Australasian managing director, Peter Gerner, said the company had already done an urgent review of its procedures to ensure that the "clerical error" that led to the seeds being shipped without final testing could not happen again. Mr Gerner said the discovery had been unexpected.
MAF said it would immediately contact affected growers about destroying their crops as soon as practicable.
Just over 201ha will be destroyed on 13 properties in Hawkes Bay and 56.9ha will be destroyed on five Gisborne farms.
Unplanted seed from the GE-contaminated shipments seized by MAF will be either shipped overseas or destroyed.
- NZPA
