GE Free NZ

All maize to be tested but other imported seeds remain untested.

Flawed seed-protocol shows Government failing to learn lessons from GE corn contamination

GE Free New Zealand is happy to see that all maize imports will continue to be tested but believes the seed protocol released today by MAF does not go far enough to prevent contaminated seeds from entering the country. Zero tolerance and the testing of all varieties of seeds, that could be genetically engineered entering the country, has long been advocated by GE Free New Zealand.

'We believe the utmost caution is needed to preserve the integrity of crops grown in this country, it is no good to say sorry after the genie is out of the bottle and the purity of our products has been called into question by overseas markets.'

Our economy is flourishing due to the quality of our exports and perceived image, we need to maintain these advantages at all costs. The public of New Zealand were also concerned to think that they may have unwittingly been eating NZ grown sweetcorn with GE contamination so we need to ensure any protocol is comparable to EU standards of zero tolerance .

"The government should be promising that nothing like the GM corn incident will be allowed to happen again. The documents released after the Corngate affair do not give the public confidence in ERMA and MAF when questions about collusion with industry-interests remain unanswered." says Mr Carapiet

For more info :-Jon Carapiet 09 815 3370

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