Call for MAF to improve biosecurity protocols
Call for MAF to improve biosecurity protocols
GE Free (NZ) is calling on MAF to improve their biosecurity protocols for seed imports into NZ to ensure that the current zero tolerance standard for GE contamination remains in place. “To date, MAF's monitoring of such contamination has been poor,” said spokesperson Claire Bleakley. This puts NZ's primary producers, economy and environment at risk.”
GE Free (NZ) is particularly concerned that MAF has permitted farmers to replant maize or sweet corn at a number of North Island sites where the illegal GE-contaminated maize Liberty Link T25 was discovered last year. Planting has occurred despite concerns raised by local authorities and primary producers about GE volunteers (generally volunteers are plants that haven't been planted but have planted themselves).
"As corn is wind pollinated, it
(the pollen) can travel miles. If care is not taken, even a
small amount of GE pollen can cause extensive contamination"
said Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in food and
environment.
“Pollution from GMOs cannot be controlled once in the open environment. MAF should improve its biosecurity protocols now to avoid further problems.
Liberty Link GE corn plants contain an antibiotic
marker gene, bacterial insecticidal proteins (Bt) and viral
gene fragments in every cell of the plant. Crops producing
Bt proteins continually manufacture their own insecticidal
toxins, which are always present at high levels within the
plant.
Published experiments have shown immune system
damage, heart and kidney abnormalities and blood disorders
in laboratory animals fed with GE crops. No
clinical
diagnostic tools are available to test for
adverse effects in humans.
”MAF must ensure that any fields that contained GE contaminated maize are not replanted with maize or sweet corn,” said [……...]. A recent British study has shown that GE canola seed can still be viable after 15 years. It is also possible that stray GE corn seed may remain viable for some years. Weedkillers such as Roundup are unlikely to kill GE seed
Japan and
Europe, two of New Zealand’s major trading partners, specify
that non-GE crops, which command a premium price, must
contain no GE DNA.
GE-FreeNZ has urged MAF to move swiftly to protect farmers and the environment from GE contamination by improving their biosecurity procedures.
ENDS
References:
Lutman PJW et al , 2005. Persistence of seeds from crops of conventional and herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Proc.R.Soc B (2005) 272, 1909-1915 22nd September 2005.
Roundup
Ready Sudden Death, Superweeds, Allergens. Time to Wipe GM
Crops Off the Globe. Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Joe Cummins
update on the failures of the most widely planted GM crop.
ISIS Press Release 03/10/05
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/RRSDSA.php
Sustainability
Council of NZ Media Release of 17 Aug
05
http://www.sustainabilitynz.org/news_item.asp?sID=150
"Strong
Public Support for Zero Tolerance to GM Contamination" There
has been very limited reform of border detection systems
since the
illegal GE breach in 2003 and the review this
triggered. MAF's current test
for imported seed uses such
a small sample size that around 5% of the time, the single
test required will not show up GMOs at concentrations of
0.1% or less. New Zealand food producers that are serious
about detecting GM content use between two and fifteen times
the sample size MAF requires. Trebling the number of seeds
used would reduce from 5% to 1% the chances of the border
test missing GM contamination at a level of 0.1%.