GE Caution Welcomed

The move by Auckland City to adopt a precautionary approach to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) land use in its LTCCP, and to join the inter-council Working Party on GMOs is to be commended. The Northland peninsula councils have already commissioned two independent GE reports and legal opinions, which detail the ways in which local authorities can effectively act on their duty of care to both ratepayers and the environment.

Auckland City is also investigating ways to maintain the Isthmus and Hauraki Gulf Islands environment, free of GMO's until outstanding issues on liability, economic, environmental, and cultural risks are resolved. .

"The responsible approach that Auckland City and Northland Peninsular Councils have taken shows that they are taking the GE concerns of their communities seriously". said Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in Food and Environment. " The ever increasing pressure to field trial or conditionally release GMO's before they have been proven safe is unacceptable to ratepaying communities and farmers "

Losses to primary producers (conventional and organic) could be substantial if GMO liability risks and other gaps in the HSNO Act are not addressed. "Corngate", GE contamination of export corn shipments, cost the Country millions in lost revenue and clean up costs.

"The best way for Councils to address the risks of GMOs, is to adopt a strong precauationary approach and work with other local authorities to keep GMO land use out of the region"

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