Departing Scientists' Complaints 'Unreasonable'
8 May 2001
Public demands for greater regulation of science justified as US reveals human genetic modification has begun.
The revelation that genetically modified humans can be created and hidden from scientific scrutiny for 4 years has shocked people around the world and led to demands for greater scrutiny of genetic research. After shelving legislation for years the New Zealand government is fast-tracking new laws at the same time the decision by the High Court to overturn ERMA's decision has cast doubt over the fate of cows with human genes.
The crisis over the
controls needed to protect the public interest has brought
some scientists out of their labs complaining about
over-strict regulations. "They have a short memory,” said
Susie Lees, a spokesperson from GE-Free NZ_-" only last year
hundreds of unauthorised experiments
were found to be
going on in crown research establishments and universities,
all avoided prosecution."
The recent resignation of Phil
D'Huillier, a staunch advocate for the rapid introduction of
genetic engineering, the timing raising questions about the
real reasons for his departure. It is believed that of the
60 cows impregnated, only 11 foetuses are still viable. The
statements from agriculture minister Jim Sutton indicate
these cows relate to farming and genetically modified dairy
products, which New Zealanders have rejected, more than
medical research. " The public need stronger protection from
any experimentation in the open environment which science
has shown carries huge risks. The reputation of our
agricultural production and exports is also at risk, and in
turn threatens our economy. No-one in the world wants to eat
GM dairy foods,” says
Susie. New Zealand is striving for
a knowledge economy and ethical use of advanced technology
in containment must be managed if it is not to destroy our
clean and green image .The experiment with copies of human
genes in cows is the most extreme and damaging
research
imaginable because of its impact on our position
in the global market. It is unreasonable for scientists to
complain over the necessary controls on such work when much
of it is publicly funded. Biotech companies are struggling
to find sufficient funds from the corporate world, and are
focusing on government funding and overseas joint ventures
with countries like the UK (PPL Therapeutics have an
approval for 10,000 sheep with human genes) who would not be
able to experiment with human genes in farm animals and
resultant meat and dairy products for
fear of huge public
outcry.
"The Royal Commission has investigated the serious ethical and scientific questions being raised and for which civil society is demanding questions: How many human genes can be copied into farm animals before they become defined as genetically modified humans? Will they be considered "substantially equivalent" as is GE food. Will they be entitled to rights, under the Human Rights Act? If that is the case, humanely destroying them may present its own unique ethical and legal problems".
ENDS