Dr Paul Hutchison
Opposition Crown Research Institutes Spokesman

17 April 2000

Alliance and Greens sidelined over GMOs

National has cautiously welcomed the terms of reference for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into genetic modification, says Opposition CRI Spokesman Paul Hutchison.

"While National does not think a Royal Commission into GMOs will yield great benefit, we are pleased the Government has resisted the views of the Alliance and Green extremists who wanted an outright moratorium on GMO field trials. This would have denied our scientists the opportunity to continue to help cure diseases or advance agriculture and horticulture.

"I look forward to the Commission's report in 12 months time and hope that it will lead to rational and informed debate about the future of GMOs. We are concerned that biotechnology is moving so rapidly that by the time the Commission has reported, many of its findings may be irrelevant.

"I consider it extremely important for New Zealand's future progress that the Government support the scientists involved in biotechnology research.

"Once the inquiry has been completed I hope that the scientific community can get on with what it does best, and have the public's confidence that their work is being done safely," Dr Hutchison said.

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