MAF's Delays Risk Sabotaging NZ's Reputation

Prevarication by MAF on what to do with GE-contaminated crops risks sabotaging New Zealand's market reputation.

It is wrong for MAF to continue to delay destroying the GM plants. Not only do most New Zealanders want our GE-Free standards applied but so do international markets. Impressions count and the only right signal is for MAF to take action now to destroy GM seed and plants.

"MAF must act in a way that is above suspicion, and correct their own mistakes, says Jon Carapiet from GE free NZ in food and environment. "It may suit them to claim the GM contamination is' fit for human consumption' or at low levels, but they are ignoring major marketing issues and must stop their excuses."

Compensation must immediately be paid to farmers to allow speedy action and alternative crops to be grown. A new compensation fund must be set up for future incursions, and new regimes for sourcing at-risk crops are required from MAF.

To protect a vital part of our economy Government agencies need to investigate a strategy for local development of seed supplies, and the use of techniques such as leaf-disc tests to weed out GM contamination in each generation.

It in the commercial interests of growers and grocery manufacturers for New Zealand to protect our GE-free standards and to act with great caution in maintaining both the reality and the impression of our national reputation.

ENDS

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