Munlochy GM Vigil

Trans-Tasman rift emerges over GE corn - ABC News, August 4 2007
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/04/1996654.htm?section=australia
A split has emerged between New Zealand and Australia over the approval of a type of genetically-engineered (GE) corn. The New Zealand Food Safety Minister has overridden the joint food authority's approval of the corn for human consumption. New Zealand has deferred the approval of Monsanto's high lysine genetically-engineered corn under its Food Safety guidelines.
The corn is engineered to add weight to pigs and poultry but has been approved for human consumption by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ's Lydia Buchtmann says the GE corn is safe for humans. "We've gone out and done additional work on this, and had it peer reviewed so we're highly confident that it's safe," she said.
Greenpeace's Louise Sales says only uncooked GE corn has been tested on animals. "It's the cooking process that can actually cause the formation of dangerous compounds," she said. The joint food authority says the approval is in case the GE corn is accidentally mixed with food products.

Councils to canvass more support for GE bans - Radio New Zealand, 30 July 2007
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200707302046/councils_to_canvass_more_support_for_ge_bans
Councils from Auckland northwards are considering territorial bans on genetically modified crops after a rebuff from the Government on liability issues. Seven Auckland and Northland councils want the Government to relieve them of liability for GE contamination or give them a say in GE releases. The Government has said the councils would have responsibilities under the Resource Management Act for dealing with any adverse effects of a crop release. However, the councils have been told that the Government will not provide indemnity against any costs involved, and say their request for greater influence with the national regulating authority has been rebuffed.
A working party of seven councils has been lobbying for a user liability regime around the crops, and more influence with the regulating authority, ERMA. Dr Kerry Grundy, the working party chairperson, says the Government has recently made it clear it will not give way on either point. He says as things stand, councils and adjoining landowners could end up paying if there is a mishap with genetically modified crops. Dr Grundy says the councils are planning to poll electors on the idea of creating exclusion zones for the crops. Whangarei District Councillor Robin Lieffering, a member of the working party, says the financial risk local bodies face because of genetically engineered crop trials is unacceptable.
Greens support councils
The Green Party says councils are right to consider territorial bans on genetically modified crops. The party does not want any GE crops planted, but say that if they are, full liability should rest with the grower. It says other growers should not have their crops put at risk.
Science group defends GE cropping
The Life Sciences Network says any ban on genetically engineered crops by local councils would deny farmers choice and cost ratepayers millions of dollars. The group says any regime of strict liability over GE products would create a de facto moratorium against their development, denying New Zealanders access to this branch of science. It says an exclusion zone would be unworkable and expensive to police, and the money would be better spent protecting New Zealand from threats like foot and mouth disease.

Government urged to reject 'dangerous' GM corn - By Martin Johnston - New Zealand Herald, July 19 2007
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=149&objectid=10452484
Two leading scientists are calling for the Government to reject a new kind of genetically modified corn which they say could be linked to a variety of diseases. Professor Garth Cooper of Auckland University and Associate Professor Jack Heinemann of Canterbury University want tougher testing of the corn, LY038, made by international seed company Monsanto. The corn is designed to be a more nutritious feed for animals, but because of the risk of its accidentally entering the human food chain - which officials say is slight - it needs approval as a human food before it can be used.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand last year recommended approval by the nine food ministers from both countries, but New Zealand's Food Safety Minister, Annette King, in February sought a review. After the review, the agency has again recommended approval, saying food derived from LY038 "is as safe as food derived from other corn varieties". But the Sustainability Council, chaired by Professor Cooper, and Canterbury University's Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety, headed by Dr Heinemann, say the high levels of lysine in LY038 make it the first GM corn designed to be substantially different from conventional corn in its nutritional profile. "While lysine is an essential amino acid, it is also highly reactive with common sugars and the heat of cooking accelerates the formation of advanced glycation end-products." The latter are implicated in conditions including heart disease and chronic kidney failure. They are also what cause the "browning" of foods.
The two groups say the food standards agency has failed to apply proper testing standards - by accepting a Monsanto study based on rats and chickens fed with raw corn when humans eat it cooked; and by not consistently comparing LY038 with a GM-free corn, contrary to international standards. "This decision is precedent-setting as once one GM bio-industrial product is accepted as a food on this basis, the stage is set for a raft of other products - including plants producing industrial and medical substances - to be approved using this lower safety standard." They say Ms King should exercise New Zealand's right to opt out of accepting the new corn. Professor Cooper said that because of the uncertainty over the effects of the high level of lysine, the corn should be subjected to the same testing as experimental medicines, including human trials. "The currently available safety data for the proposed high-lysine corn is judged to fall far short of the quality required for adequate pharmacological safety assessment," he said.
Ms King's spokesman said yesterday she would not comment until the transtasman ministerial food council's decision was released next week. The agency said in its review report that its assessment of LY038 was "entirely consistent" with international guidelines and its own. Spokeswoman Lydia Buchtmann denied that lower standards had been applied and said the assessment included comparison with conventionally-grown corn. "We think Jack Heinemann has misinterpreted a lot of the things he has raised." When asked if human feeding trials were necessary, she said: "Lysine is an amino acid; it's part of a protein; it's something we eat every day." "It's nothing new. It's just genetically modified to make this a high-lysine corn, so animals thrive better and grow better."

GE Brassica Trials - High Court Papers Filed Today - GE Free NZ press release, 25 June 2007
After much consideration papers will be filed today in relation to errors in law relating to approvals for field trials of GE Brassica. GE Free NZ (in food and environment) has decided that flawed decision making cannot go unscrutinised. Unfortunately there is no other legal redress for those making public submissions to challenge what appears to be an approach by ERMA that justifies why an experiment should go ahead instead of considering all points and then finding solutions to best address them.
ERMA received 940 submissions asking that the application be declined in light of known dangers to the New Zealand economy, public and animal health making a commercial release at any stage in the future impossible to envisage. The ERMA hearing was initially disrupted as people protested the farcical nature of the process and expressed concern that ERMA would approve the application regardless of submissions. The hearing cost NGOs many thousands of dollars to participate. The submitters provided well researched scientific evidence that was not previously included in the application. However key concerns were judged "negligible".
"The lack of necessary research protocols and experimental procedures over the ten years of the trials means that little knowledge of value will come out of the field tests," says Claire Bleakley from GE free NZ ( in food and environment). "We are ask anyone concerned to support and donate to this challenge."
Claire Bleakley 027 348 6731 (06) 3089842 - Jon Carapiet: 021 050 7681
References: www.gefree.org.nz for information behind this decision.

Sad day for New Zealand - Green Party media release, 28 May 2007
The Environmental Risk Management Authority's (ERMA) decision to allow field testing of genetically engineered brassica crops risks sending good money after bad, with no chance that the New Zealand public will ever agree to eat this plant or have it grown commercially here. "This decision will allow for pest resistant forage kale, cabbages, cauliflower, and broccoli containing a caterpillar killing pesticide to be taken out of the laboratory into a field.....Brassica is a particularly problematic crop. Brassica pollen travels large distances, the seeds are small and brassicas cross easily, with hundreds of variants in existence....Rather than reducing the need for pesticides, the use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in genetically engineered crops is likely to produce long-term resistance in insects, which means more toxic sprays will be needed to control pests," Ms Fitzsimons says.
"We must be cautious about promises of containment and monitoring, and that the trial will not be allowed to flower.....The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry raised some very serious concerns following the last round of brassica field trials. They highlighted failures to meet several conditions surrounding monitoring, non-cultivation of trial sites and buffer zones. Other evidence shows that canola plants were allowed to flower to enable seed production, and at the end of the field tests, the plant material was disposed of by ploughing into the ground. These seeds can lay dormant in soil for up to 15 years."
"ERMA received 959 submissions on this application - of which 941 were opposed to the trials. What part of "No" don't they understand?.....Risks include the transfer of the changed genes to wild plants. For example, plants engineered to be resistant to pesticides may transfer their resistance to weeds. It has already been proven that this can happen, and that new resistant weeds can survive in the wild. And almost all GE plants use antibiotic resistant genes - another area of grave concern in agriculture and wider society....The announcement of 10 years worth of funding for a trial with no safety testing when even the project leader has admitted there can be no guarantees of containing the trial to the site is tantamount to a publicly funded handout for scientific folly....The way forward for New Zealand is organics and integrated pest management, building on our clean, green image."
For more information: Keiller MacDuff, Media Officer, 04 470 6723

GE Brassica Approval Lacks Common Sense - But Nice Job For Some - GE Free NZ media release, 28 May 2007
The decision by ERMA to approve 10-years of field trials of GE brassica is a defeat for common sense and undermines the Authority's credibilty as a regulatory body. The decision excludes any consideration of "the future", effectively ring-fencing the process from common-sense. It also ignores proven alternatives to "solving the insect problem" the GE field trials are supposed to solve. The approach to be used in the field trials has already been shown overseas to be short-lived, with target-insects developing resistance or new species becoming pests as the original target-species declines. The main beneficiaries of this decision are a handful of scientists who will be paid to undertake research that:
- Has no commercially viable outcome (admitted by the researchers themselves)
- Ignores lessons from overseas where such techniques have failed
- Pretends existing solutions for pest-control that are already in use 'do not exist'
- Plans to grow plants that have never been tested to confirm they are safe to eat, and which may indeed be toxic as has been found to be the case in other GE-foods
- Undermines New Zealand's Brand image as a source of safe, clean, natural produce
- Runs counter to the wishes of 70% of New Zealanders who believe GE has no place in the future of agriculture in New Zealand (source: Sustainability Council research)
"The decision shows that ERMA is fatally flawed in its mechanistic application of the HSNO Act and willingly turn a blind eye to common sense as well as community values," says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment. "The decision was deliberately "ring fenced" from common sense and any consideration of the future, when 'the future' is precisely what needs to be considered," Mr Carapiet says. "Of the 60 field trials to date there has been no research published on the environmental, human or animal effects. There are still no diagnostic tools for looking at health impacts or horizontal gene transfer, and there is no responsibility for the applicants to develop them."
However, the scientists set to benefit from years of unnecessary, but public-funded research are to be congratulated. Many people will envy them the job-security and pay-packets resulting from having won approval to spend time and money doing something that has no potential market, little scientific value, and ignores the national and international consumer trends against GE foods. What little valid information might be gleaned from this research could be, and should be done in containment. Plans to artificially introduce insect infestations to the field trials makes nonsense of the applicant's claims that external field trials are the only research option because it is more "realistic". ERMA will have lost the public's confidence in the decision-making process, and by approving research that at the end of the day has no reasonable justification.
Jon Carapiet- 0210 507 681
REFERENCE
ERMA media release - 28 May 2007
The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA New Zealand) has approved an application by the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research to field test genetically-modified brassicas in the Lincoln region. However, ERMA New Zealand has included strict controls to manage the risk of GM material escaping from the site.
Crop and Food applied for permission to assess the agronomic performance of four genetically-modified vegetable and forage brassicas - broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale - on a 0.4 hectare plot over a 10-year period. The brassicas would be modified for resistance to caterpillar pests like cabbage white butterfly and diamondback moth, with genes derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringensis.
A public hearing was held in Christchurch last month to consider the application, which attracted 959 submissions.
The Authority has approved the field test with a number of controls, including:
a requirement to prevent the flowering and therefore pollen release of GM brassicas while they are planted in the field test site;
a requirement to ensure that all GM brassicas are removed from the field test site on completion of the research and do not enter the human or animal food chain, in any form.
a requirement to monitor the field test site for one year after the last brassicas have been removed to look for any 'volunteer' GM plants.
ERMA New Zealand?s General Manager, New Organisms, Libby Harrison, says the field test is subject to strict controls to ensure that the GM brassicas remain contained within the field test site, and do not enter the food chain.
Dr Harrison would like to thank all submitters and acknowledge their contribution to the decision-making process.
Application GMF06001
Media contact: David Venables, Manager, Communications, ERMA New Zealand

Report Reveals Risks to New Zealand's Insects and Soils - GE Free NZ press release, 3 May 2007
Plants containing "Bt" toxins could severely damage New Zealand soil, and beneficial insect populations, suggests a published review of international scientific studies.The report by Hillbeck and Schmidt examines the published literature on Bt toxins - widely incorporated as a feature of GM plants - in scores of laboratory feeding studies. It shows a range of important insect species including bees, butterflies and moths can be fatally and chronically affected by Bt "Cry" genes. Lady birds had increased death rates after two weeks of eating one version of the toxins. The studies also observed that Bt expressed in transgenic plants was far more detrimental to reproduction, growth and lifespan in important insect populations. Non-target insects had a higher death rate from GM-plant Bt than the commercial Bt sprays. The report is a strong indication that New Zealand native insect species could be severely affected by transgenic Bt (Cry gene) crops as they carry out a much bigger pollination role than previously thought. (Cronshaw T, 2005). It also shows Bt plants put could undermine other scientific work to develop natural bio-controls for problem insects.
"Any chronic, sublethal effects of this toxin in soil or plants on non-target predator species could severely damage the management methods of bio control where predator insects are used to manage prey pests," said Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in Food and Environment. "Any threat to this farming method is of concern as the prey /host relationship is a major tool in IPM (integrated pest management) farming methods, which is part of our international position as a clean-and green producer."
In New Zealand a comprehensive range of fungi, protozoa, nematodes, bacteria and predator insects moths, wasps have become available to farmers for pest control. Many of these bio control agents live in the soil and are an important part of ecosystems. This review has collated the research showing that these organisms been shown to be highly susceptible to Bt toxins.
"In light of these adverse effects authorities must require that long term indoor safety and diagnostic tools are developed for testing of these plants. The research when completed must be peer reviewed and published before any plant is allowed to grow outdoors," says Claire Bleakley. "ERMA must not approve the field testing of Bt brassica (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and forage kale)".
Claire Bleakley (06) 3089842 027 348 6731
References:
Hillbeck A. and Schmidt J., (2006) Another View on Bt Proteins - How Specific are they and What Else Might They Do? Biopestcide.In: 2 (1): 1-5.
http://www.gmo-guidelines.info/public/publications/download/HilbeckSchmidt06.pdf
Tim Cronshaw, Flies show pollen power. The Press, October 2005, http://gefreesonoma.org/documents/Fliesshowpollenpower

Scientist says GE crops don't live up to promise - By PAUL GORMAN - The Press, 16 April 2007
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtimes/4027411a11.html
Crop and Food Research is being accused of tunnel vision on genetic engineering (GE) by one of its former scientists. Biotechnologist Dr Elvira Dommisse, who worked on the early stages of Crop and Food's GE onion experiments before the current field trials began, says GE crops have not lived up to their initial promise and the Crown research institute should invest more in conventional plant breeding. The institute's application to carry out a 10-year Lincoln field trial of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale genetically engineered to contain a natural pesticide to kill caterpillars was heard by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) in Christchurch last week.
Dommisse worked for the old Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and then Crop and Food from 1985 to 1993. She left because she found the work unrewarding and could not see it solving the problems people said it would. She was critical of the "lack of precaution and lack of thinking" in Crop and Food's application to Erma, and said scientists working in the GE area were under pressure to develop lines that would become commercially viable. Some scientists were not keen on GE work but were afraid to talk out about it for fear of losing funding on which jobs depended.
"New Zealand has invested quite heavily in it. As a scientist, once you narrow down into GE your skills are very much in that area. You can't just say, `I don't like this area any more, I'll zip over to plant breeding instead'.....You have to try to push it - 'we have got this GE stuff, what are we going to do with it now? We have to keep getting our salaries for the next 10 years, get funding that will keep this project going'.....If you can get a 10-year bloc of funding, you are home and hosed," Dommisse said. She doubted the field trial would be a useful exercise if it were approved. Most people ate broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower for health benefits and would be unimpressed by GE brassicas.
By the time the 10-year trial ended, that would mark 30 years since the experiment began. "They could have been spending that time and money to develop new commercial lines. What they could do instead is put a bit more money into conventional brassica breeding, using hand pollination and selection to look for good traits without tweaking the genes." Scientists were "theoretical people, not growers", she said. "They have done this under very strict conditions in the glasshouse but not in the field. You can't just transfer that to the fields, it's completely different."
On the last day of the Erma hearing on Friday, Crop and Food project leader Dr Mary Christey admitted there were no cast-iron guarantees all the GE material could be contained on the site. "I don't think you can give an absolute to anything, but we would have a high level of probability of detecting things," she told the hearing. Christey said she would not engage in any research that would compromise the environment her children inherited. "I'm interested in ensuring the environment is preserved for them. I wouldn't engage in this research if I didn't think it wouldn't be damaging the environment....At the same time, I can see GE plants growing overseas and I can see the benefits that can accrue."
BioAg New Zealand founder Phyllis Tichinin said if the trial went ahead it was important for New Zealand's "social cohesion" that it was scientifically robust and advanced the country's international "scientific mana".

GE Inquiry Threatens Public Confidence in Regulators - Press release, GE FREE NZ (extracts)
The ERMA hearing being held in Christchurch to consider a ten-year field-trial of Genetically Modified vegetables, has already prompted public protest. In a legal submission for Greenpeace, Duncan Currie put forward that real risks were being underestimated and signifiant wider implications wrongly ignored. The ERMA Authority has approved all GE field test applications to date. Concerns were also raised that the independent reviewer only evaluated the final report and never saw submitter's evidence.
Expert witness Julie Newman from the Network of Concerned farmers in Australia, talked about the problems of lack of liability and the cost to farmers who have lost markets from GE contamination. There is also the serious concern that extreme weather conditions can spread GE in the environment and contaminate non-GE seed stocks. Expert witness Dr. Judy Carmen epidemiologist and biochemist expressed concern over the lack of safety data on food containing high levels of Bt toxin. She highlighted the example of a trial of GE peas that went for ten years before it was discovered to be toxic to humans. The peas had to be destroyed, wasting millions of taxpayers dollars. She stressed that toxicity trials on the Bt plants must be conducted prior to further experimentation.
"Submissions were initially declared invalid and many concerns were disregarded and considered outside of the parameters of the field trial," said Susie Lees of GE Aware Nelson (GEAN). "Spending ten years on these trials when Bt has been linked to deleterious health impacts is irresponsible and puts us all at risk."
GE Free (NZ) called on the ERMA Authority to decline the application until long term comprehensive health and environmental testing on Bt toxicity is carried out in containment, and the data peer reviewed and published.
Claire Bleakley 027 348 6731

Demonstrators disrupt hearing - By PAUL GORMAN - The Press, 12 April 2007 - http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4022938a6530.html
Canterbury scientists behind a scheme to attack caterpillars with genetically engineered (GE) brassicas found themselves under fire yesterday. Crown research institute Crop and Food Research has been developing GE broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale that will kill caterpillars. Now it wants to bring the brassicas out of the glasshouse and into the garden. Crop and Food's application to complete a 10-year field trial at Lincoln to help eliminate the wriggly pests is the subject of a three-day Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) hearing, which began in Christchurch yesterday.
The hearing was disrupted by anti-GE protesters who blew whistles and made speeches in the meeting room. Police helped security guards, and one person was charged with trespass. Protest spokesman Garry Edmonson said they opposed the discussion of genetic modification in New Zealand. "GMOs will never be accepted in Aotearoa. This whole process should never have taken place. The moratorium should never have been lifted."
Erma received 959 submissions on the application - 941 against, 17 in support and one abstaining. Despite that, Erma's initial evaluation report says there will be minimal risk of adverse environmental effects and little chance of any adverse effects on human health and safety, on Maori and on the Treaty of Waitangi, given the controls proposed over the destruction of the plants. Erma's analysis also believes the trial is likely to benefit society. Crop and Food says it has conducted 34 similar field tests since 1988. Crop and Food project leader Dr Mary Christey has been developing brassicas during the past five years, which contain the natural pesticide already used by organic growers, Bacillus thuringiensis , known as Bt. Bt kills caterpillars that are dining out on the plants, mainly caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly, the diamondback moth and the soybean looper. The application is to trial the GE brassicas in a secured, contained field of up to 0.4ha.
Greenpeace, one of several groups opposing the trials, is questioning Erma's objectivity in proposing the application be approved. Greenpeace lawyer Duncan Currie said Erma had incorrectly applied the 1996 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act at several levels. Erma had misapplied the act in assessing uncertainty and risk, had failed to assess the "opportunity cost" in the sense of lost funding to other, non-GE, research, and had incorrectly scoped risks, costs and benefits, he said. The authority had never turned down a GE field trial application, and Currie called on the Government to decline this one. "The appearance is that any application, no matter how misconceived, how pointless and no matter what level of opposition, will be approved."
Potential environmental risks included contamination of non-GE crops, the development of insect resistance to the Bt toxin, effects on non-target insects, such as butterflies, and the escape of the genes. "Trials to test insect resistance to GE Bt brassica are a waste of both time and money. The research around the world for Bt brassica already shows that insects build up resistance, the consumer doesn't want it, farmers won't grow it and certainly can't sell it."
Christey said anybody who grew cabbages appreciated the damage caterpillars could cause. "Under laboratory conditions, caterpillars feeding on cabbage which has been genetically modified so it produces Bt all die within 48 hours, and the plant is virtually undamaged." The plants would be destroyed before flowering or secured for analysis in the lab. She declined to say where the trial plot would be and what security measures would be taken if approval was granted.
The hearing continues today.

FSANZ under scrutiny for approving GE crop - Friday, March 16, 2007
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14658&start=1&control=216&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
New Zealand's food regulators - FSANZ, must think again about the basis for their approvals of GE foods in the light of revelations that companies may have deliberately hidden data from officials. GE Free NZ (in food and environment) is backing calls from the Green Party for immediate action to be taken in light of the release of data in Germany relating to Monsanto's MON863 geneticaly modified corn. GE Free NZ is awaiting an urgent respone from FSANZ in regard to what actions it will take in light of revelations that they have approved MON863 on the basis of deceptive data.
FSANZ has been asked to advise on the following: Given the evidence of harm resulting from consumption from the now-released data when will they suspend the existing approval? When will they review the data, revise and re-issue their assessment? What are the Brand names of products including MON863 imported into Australia/New Zealand? - Are they also aware of the recent data from India in relation to harm arising from consumption of BT crops? What public-health monitoring of effects from approved GM products does FSANZ have in place or access from other government/independent authorities? Why, if there is no such data, does FSANZ believe it is an acceptable situation on which to base its work moving forward?
These issues go to the heart of the way officials carry out their statutory duties to protect public health and the safety of the food supply. As a matter of urgency they must be answered honestly and with transparancy.
Copyright Scoop

GM decision on corn variety sent back to drawing board - Radio New Zealand, 21 Feb 2007
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200702212032/gm_decision_on_corn_variety_sent_back_to_drawing_board
A decision approving a genetically modified corn variety has been sent back to the drawing board by Food Safety Minister Annette King. Food Standards Australia New Zealand gave its approval for the corn but has been waiting for the minister to confirm it. The GM corn is intended for feeding to pigs and poultry but approval was sought for it in case some gets into the human food chain. Critics say the corn - which has high levels of the amino acid lysine - can cause diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer and diabetes. They also argue the FSANZ assessment is flawed because it compares the GM corn with other GM corn rather than with regular corn. Ms King says she is seeking a review of the assessment process to ensure that consumer confidence is maintained.

GE corn rethink welcome, health risks must be considered - Press Release: Green Party, 21 February 2007 - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00395.htm
Food Safety Minister Annette King should be congratulated for standing up for proper process and seeking a ministerial review of the recommendation by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to approve a genetically engineered corn for animal and human use, Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says. "The FSANZ draft decision creates an alarming precedent regarding the level of scrutiny required before GE organisms are approved for human consumption," Ms Fitzsimons says. "I strongly urge the Minister to ensure the review goes beyond mere procedural matters, and also revisits the substance of the decision, given the inherent health risks to all New Zealanders posed by this product."
The corn, High-Lysine Corn LY038, is produced by seed giant Monsanto, who have applied for its release in New Zealand to be used in animal feed. They are also seeking approval for use in human food of the corn, which has been genetically modified to contain levels of the amino acid lysine at substantially higher levels than found in other corn varieties. "It is alarming that this corn variety is so close to being approved for release in New Zealand. While Monsanto insists it will only be used for animal feed, they concede this corn may also indirectly enter the human food chain and are therefore applying for its approval as a human food so that they don't have to keep it separate," Ms Fitzsimons says. "Lysine itself is not a health risk, but when high levels are cooked in combination with sugars, which are also present in the corn, compounds called AGEs are produced which have been implicated in causing Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and several other serious health conditions...Despite the fact that the food risks of cooking lysine and sugars are well known, FSANZ made no effort to evaluate what the health impacts would be if LY038 were to enter the human food supply and be cooked...It is therefore essential that the ministerial review that Mrs King has now set in train regarding the FSANZ decision also gives full consideration to these inherent health risks. High levels of diabetes are already a major problem in New Zealand. We should not be releasing a substance into the food chain that could contribute to this condition, or to any other health problem."

NZ food supply threatened by genetic modification - By Diane Cordemans - Wednesday, February 21, 2007
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14467&start=1&control=214&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
Concern that genetically modified (GM) seed stocks will contaminate New Zealand's food crops, destroy our reputation and affect businesses, is growing among groups in the agricultural sector. The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand said imports of sweet corn and maize seed should be stopped until all possible risks of GM contamination have been eliminated. Spokesman for the association, Steffan Browning, said Syngenta, the supplier of the GM corn seed which passed through our border control last year, is already at the centre of legal proceedings in several countries. He said, rather than importing seed, growers would feel more secure with further development of the New Zealand seed industry. "With issues of droughts, global events, wars etc, it is very important that New Zealand has a high level of food security. China is now importing food because of land that has been taken up for industrial use," he said. Syngenta, along with biotech giant, Monsanto, are among the world's largest producers of GM seeds -- most notably Roundup-ready corn and soya beans. These GM foodcrops are bred to be resistant to the chemical herbicide Roundup, while neighbouring plants are killed. The subsequent damage to the soil is irreversible and requires more chemical inputs to sustain growth.
New Zealand Seeds Auckland-based company South Pacific Seeds produces vegetable seed for export. Managing director John McKay said that most seed producers believe that New Zealand seed stocks have not been contaminated -- and they would like to keep it that way. "And even if you were a breeder that had that capability [to produce GM seed], you probably wouldn't want your brand name subjected to the scrutiny of doing it." Our global location in the southern hemisphere means New Zealand is in a unique position for producing and exporting seeds, Mr McKay said. There is very little land in the southern hemisphere at the 44 degree latitude where vegetables can be grown for seed, he said.
"Only the southern island of New Zealand and the southern tip of South America...there is nowhere else in the southern hemisphere where you can produce…the kinds of seeds we produce. That is why northern hemisphere plant breeders want to use New Zealand. There is nowhere else to go," he said.
Likewise, with pasture grasses, which represent the biggest part of the seed industry in New Zealand. Marketing Manager of Cropmark Seeds Gary Begley said all New Zealand's pasture grasses are GM free. Cropmark has offices in Hamilton and Palmerston North, and breeds grazing grasses for the domestic and international markets. Mr Begley pointed out that pastoral farming and grass is an important part of the New Zealand agricultural economy. In parts of Europe, and North and South America, New Zealand grasses "lead the way", he said.
Government Apology
Minister of Biosecurity Jim Anderton said he was disappointed with border control failures identified recently within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Quarantine Service (MAFQS). But they will be fixed without delay, he said. "Clearance practices [to manage GM risk] followed by frontline officers have been inadequate. There are many reasons why these mistakes occurred but there are no excuses," he said in a press release. The failure to prevent entry of GM corn seed into New Zealand in late 2006 by the MAFQS was scrutinised in a recent David Oughton report, commissioned by MAF. Mr Anderton said the report has resulted in a shake-up of practices by frontline officers and a review of computer systems. The huge volume of people and material coming into New Zealand meant the risk will remain but the best systems must be in place to minimise it, he said.
The Figures
According to the International Seed Trade Federation Secretariat, a non-profit international organization representing seed companies, New Zealand exported NZ$48 million worth of seed and imported NZ$18 million worth in 2005.
Call for Protection
Major producer of GM seed, Monsanto, acquired the world's largest vegetables eed company, Seminis, in 2005 – resulting in the world's seed supply being concentrated within a small number of companies. GE Free New Zealand spokesman Jon Carapiet said New Zealand farmers urgently need to work together to protect their long-term access to seeds and the right to save seeds for planting each year. He said attempts to control all seed supplies by powerful international companies were becoming increasingly aggressive. The consolidation of seed supplies into a handful of companies could mean farmers are denied access to seeds they need. Eventually farmers could even be limited to new patented varieties that may be GM or contaminated by GM material, he said.
The Green Party have called for Food Safety Minister Annette King to "veto a recommendation from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to approve a genetically engineered corn for animal and human use". Green Party Leader Jeannette Fitzsimmons said that GE corn could soon be released by one of the largest agribusinesses. "While Monsanto insists it will only be used for animal feed, they concede that this corn may also indirectly enter the human food chain.The Greens are demanding to see thorough and independent testing of the impact of this GE corn on human health."
Copyright 2000 - 2007 Epoch Times International

ARC adopts anti-GMO policy position - February 19, 2007
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14449&start=1&control=194&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) today voted to oppose the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in field and food in the Auckland region. The Council does not, however, oppose creating GMOs in laboratories for medical purposes.
ARC Regional Strategy and Planning Chair Paul Walbran says the Council adopted the policy in principle as a precautionary approach because there are significant uncertainties about GMOs, and issues that are yet to be understood and resolved.
The ARC’s policy acknowledges the overwhelming opposition to GMOs that was demonstrated in public submissions to the ARC’s annual plan. “Our policy reflects Aucklanders’ widespread opposition to genetic modification.....This is a symbolic decision that acknowledges that Central Government, not regional and local government, has responsibility for developing and enforcing decisions about genetically modified organisms,” says Mr Walbran.
Copyright Scoop

Seed firm asked to pay for GM error - Patrick Crewdson - Friday, February 16, 2007
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14442&start=1&control=207&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry of New Zealand has tried to invoice an American seed supply company for the costs of the genetically modified sweetcorn blunder, despite admitting border procedures were not up to scratch.
Four tonnes of sweetcorn slipped past border control in October and November, mistakenly cleared by ministry quarantine officers despite documentation showing the parent crop had tested positive for GM organisms. More than $7 million worth of crops had to be destroyed. Despite admitting partial responsibility for the blunder, the ministry is seeking reimbursement from American seed supplier Syngenta.
In a December 22 letter obtained by The Dominion Post under the Official Information Act, the ministry asked Syngenta for $167,000 to reimburse the ministry for costs incurred responding to the breach. The costs of crop destruction operations, field inspections and operations management were initially estimated at $93,000, but that figure was revised upward when additional work was required because of poor germination of the seeds. Ministry staff had spent an estimated 980 hours working on the matter, at a cost of more than $70,000, the letter said. The cost of senior management's time, travel and other disbursements were not included. A spokesman for Syngenta said the company was still considering the ministry's request.
Meanwhile, Syngenta had reached agreement with all the processing companies, meaning farmers would either have their crops replanted or would receive compensation for loss of income or costs incurred. Many farmers who had replanted would also receive compensation for lower crop volumes as a result of later-planted crops. Of 147 hectares affected in Gisborne, 104ha had been replanted, as had all of the 111ha affected in Hawke's Bay. The spokesman would not say how much compensation had been paid, saying it was a commercial arrangement between Syngenta and processors.
Earlier this month, the Government admitted the biosecurity breach was linked to "disappointing and unacceptable" failures within the MAF quarantine service. The ministry's official report found an error of judgment on the part of the inspecting officer as well as a lack of appropriate peer review.
© Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2007 - Source: The Dominion Post

New success shows way for NZ research - 09 Feb 2007
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14392&start=1&control=218&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
New Zealand must re-focus its scientific programmes around non-GE plant and animal research to gain advances that will appeal to consumers, farmers and which are environmentally safe. Overseas scientists are moving away from genetically engineered research and into marker assisted selection (MAS) and gene pyramiding using conventional crossing of non GE plants with the desired traits. New Research has just been released on a bean resistant to four different kinds of rust. The beans are conventionally pollinated crossing two beans with the desired traits then using selection process to find the beans that have been “gene pyramided”.
The creation of the beans has been all done by natural and selective pollination of plants, avoiding the problems related to GE techniques. Each time a generation is crossed and its progeny carries the extra genetic desired traits it is called “gene pyramiding”. Each resulting generation of bean seeds are tested for the presence of the desired gene using PCR techniques. Dr Pastor-Corrales, of the Plant Sciences Institute in Beltsville Agricultural Research Center is the scientist who has worked on this research and writes “None of the beans used in our breeding scheme to produce the great northern (BelMiNeb-RMR-8, -9, -10, -11, -12, and -13) and pinto (BelDakMi-19, -20, -21, -22, and -23) bean germplasm lines - with four genes for rust resistance and two genes for resistance to bean common mosaic and bean common mosaic necrosis poly-viruses - are from genetically modified beans”.
This is the kind of research that New Zealand CRI’s and scientists should be involved in. These beans have been produced using processes that do not introduce the genetically modified viral or bacterial genes into the DNA of plants and is a positive use of new diagnostic tools to select for traits. The process can also be fast; the beans have only taken a few generations to produce the desired traits and are similar to the seed saving traditions of indigenous peoples over millennia. We hope that this promising research and outcome will be used to help all farmers and not become restricted by expensive patents or prohibition on seed-saving that GE seed-producers have tried to force on them. ERMA must consider such alternative methods of achieving desired resistance in their latest GE brassica (GMF 06001) assessment.
The continual push for GE is going to become an expensive white elephant that New Zealand will regret because it is unmarketable, and obscures the great non-GE achievements of our scientists in the agricultural sector.
Copyright Scoop

Concerns that FSANZ is compromising food safety - 09 Feb 2007
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14391&start=1&control=218&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
The recommendation from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to approve a genetically engineered High-Lysine Corn LY038 for animal and human use, is a warning sign that the Authority is inappropriately influenced by trade-related issues and the interests of overseas businesses like Monsanto's. This decision comes just weeks after New Zealand officials declared they want to adopt the same loose policies for cloned animal products that have been proposed in the US by the FDA. Like their US counterparts the NZFSA intends no testing, monitoring or labelling of products from clones because differences are expected to be minimal and products "substantially equivalent."
But such a policy on cloned food ignores the fact that small differences can have significant impacts. "Substantial equivalence is closer to bureaucratic spin than sound science", says Jon Carapiet from GE free NZ in food and environment. "On this basis animals with mad cow disease could be deemed fine to eat because they only have a small difference in the shape of one protein: prions."
Though the FSANZ admit LY038 is different, once again there seems to be unacceptable and detrimental pressure from business to open up New Zealand's and Australia's food system to inadequately tested (and largely unwanted) products. LY038 is produced by seed giant Monsanto, and is genetically modified to contain levels of the amino acid lysine at substantially higher levels than found in other corn. The application for approval for human food is "just in case" it gets mixed in from animal feed by accident, as has already happened in the past.
FSANZ seem to have ignored warnings that when foods with high levels of lysine are cooked in combination with sugars, compounds called AGEs are produced which have been implicated in causing Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and other serious conditions. In a submision to FSANZ, The Centre for Research in Biosafety at Canterbury University identified different ways that animal feed could either inadvertently or deliberately end up being consumed by humans, and warned them of the possible effects.
GE Free NZ in food and environment support calls by the Green Party for a Ministerial veto of the decision, and want new protocols on food testing to be developed and introduced before any further approvals are made for 'novel foods'. The Centre for Research in Biosafety reports in its submission that the testing procedure for this corn deviated from the recommendations of international food safety bodies, including the World Health Organisation. "This is unacceptable. We need the best standards, not the ones that best suit business or overseas investors," says Mr Carapiet. Consumers are being exposed to unwanted and unnecessary risks because officials meant to protect them have a wider agenda than providing genuine choice and safety.The bias to meeting the interests of industry and agri-business risks compromising the integrity off the food chain.
Copyright Scoop

NZ needs a clean seed industry - 05 Feb 2007
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14353&start=1&control=200&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
The report by David Oughton from his inquiry into the importation of genetically engineered corn seeds in late 2006, shows institutional corruption and calls into question the ethics of at least some individuals involved in border surveillance according to the Soil & Health Association spokesperson Steffan Browning.
The continued GE incursions also show the need for an urgent expansion of New Zealand’s seed growing industry, a ban on imports of seed from countries and companies that consistently supply contaminated seed. That a MAF Quarantine Service officer who participated in the earlier decision to remove the requirements for double checks in approving risky seed imports, was also the officer that then ignored positive GE tests and allowed the GE contaminated sweet corn into New Zealand fields, has a very bad smell about it, according to Mr Browning.
The fact that of 90 consignments in 2006, 30 had incomplete computer records shows that staff involved were not taking the issue seriously and maybe some positions need reviewing, as much as systems need improving. This goes right to the top however, said Mr Browning, and the culture of indifference comes from many levels of government that have an arrogant and cavalier attitude to the wishes of New Zealanders and to the risks of Genetic Engineering. New Zealand’s zero tolerance to GE contamination must be defended effectively.
The Oughton report points out a need for improved border control systems focused on the dominant risk seed species; Brassica napus var . oleifera (oil seed rape), Glycine max (soy bean), Zea mays (corn/maize), Medicago sativa (lucerne/alfalfa). Soil & Health agrees and sees a further method of precaution in a total ban on importation on those species from the US and other countries producing such GE seed. Some giant seed companies are also consistently the suppliers of contaminated seed and should be penalised for supplying shonky product. Syngenta was the supplier of all the contaminated seed in this recent event, and is the subject of legal proceedings in several countries.
One independent US seed grower with New Zealand interests, has told me that he would prefer to see a New Zealand seed industry developed as GE Free, to allow varieties to be grown on in confidence in New Zealand and be marketed to an eager world, said Mr Browning. The niche market for New Zealand is clean and green and the commercial opportunities are superior to risky seed importation.
Contrary to some seed importers claims, the advantages of new imported varieties do not match the combined benefits of a New Zealand seed industry and clean product for rapidly growing lucrative and discerning markets. Soil & Health promotes Organic 2020 which fits well with the international growth in organics and has no place for GE contamination. Soil & Health wants staff changes in border control, improved checking systems, a ban on risky imports and strong government encouragement for the New Zealand seed industry.
Copyright scoop.co.nz

GE seed, crops eradicated in HB - Hawke's Bay Today, 21.12.2006
http://www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3714884&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
All but about 50ha of the sweetcorn crops grown with seed contaminated with genetically engineered seeds in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay regions has been destroyed. Biosecurity officials last week ordered 258.4ha of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne sweetcorn crops planted with 1807kg of contaminated seed to be harrowed. All growing plants were chopped and buried.
Replanting on the cleared paddocks was suspended earlier in the week after a small patch of seed that had only just germinated was found among three-week-old plants 300mm high. Growers have said Christmas would be the latest that affected fields could be economically re-planted with sweetcorn for the processing sector. Mr Sangster said most growers did want to re-plant with sweetcorn but some would plant a different crop. Rain had caused delays with work in some areas. About 80 percent of the 57ha of affected land in Gisborne was to be replanted while about 20 percent of 201ha in Hawke's Bay would be replanted.
Syngenta, the American seed company that supplied the seed, has agreed to compensate farmers for any costs involved in the GE contaminated seed.

NZ Govt may face $1 million bill for corn botchup - New Zealand Press Association, 7 December 2006
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14019&start=1&control=209&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
WELLINGTON - The Government may face a hill of up to $1 million to clean up the latest border bungle - allowing genetically-engineered (GE) contaminated seeds to enter the country. Imports of a total of 4420kg of sweetcorn seed is being being investigated for possible GE contamination. About two-thirds of the sweetcorn seed -- 3067.5kg -- was planted in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, and Ashburton, on about 373ha spread over 25 properties. The bill the Crown faces for cleanup of the latest incident is understood to be in the vicinity of $1 million," Sustainability Council executive director Simon Terry said today. He said the council had proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) two years ago low-cost and no-cost biosecurity measures to significantly boost chances of detecting seed contamination and avoiding expensive cleanup bills. These included trebling the quantity of seeds sampled, to raise the ability to detect low concentrations, and encouraging importers to track and screen seeds for GE content from origin to delivery.
Such quality assurance procedures would aid MAF's stated objective of ensuring New Zealand's GE-free status was maintained. Mr Terry said MAF had put aside the council's proposals, to be reviewed at some later date. But they would have boosted the chance of detecting GE seeds in the latest shipments, even if the paperwork had not been read correctly at the border. Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitizsimons said tonight that efforts by Biosecurity NZ, an agency within MAF, to go back to the US suppliers ofthe seeds, Syngenta, seemed pointless. "These four consignments came through with documentation that showed GE contamination," she said. "Even if Syngenta provides 100 more documents, it will not change the fact that several tonnes of contaminated seeds have been illegally imported and planted." Ms Fitzsimons said that for MAF or biosecurity officials to consider letting the corn mature and be harvested, on the condition that it was then exported would send a dangerous signal to markets that expected NZ to be GE-free.
Mr Terry said trying to contain the GE seeds in that way would raise questions about how committed NZ was to the policy of "zero tolerance" of illicit GE seed. "No level of GE contamination is acceptable for the buyers who seek out New Zealand producers because of this country's GE-free reputation," he said.

GM corn investigation to be completed by Tuesday - Radio New Zealand, 4 December 2006 [shortened]
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200612042203/gm_corn_investigation_to_be_completed_by_tuesday
Biosecurity New Zealand expects to complete a full investigation by Tuesday into where 400ha of genetically modified corn was planted, and the extent of the contamination. Its spokesperson Peter Thompson says a staff error led to almost two tonnes of GM corn breaching the border in October. He says most of the corn has been planted, and it must be destroyed. The accident has prompted GE Free New Zealand and the Soil and Health Association to reiterate their call for a ban on all corn and maize seeds, until it can be assured they are GM-free. The Green Party says it is appalling the border is so leaky when such a robust system has been set up. It says there is no excuse for Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry staff just waving a shipment through when there was a positive test result with it.....................

GM corn to be destroyed - Radio New Zealand, 4 December 2006 - http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200612041653/gm_corn_to_be_destroyed
Biosecurity New Zealand was to meet corn growers on Monday to decide the best way of destroying 400 hectares of genetically modified corn. Its spokesperson Peter Thompson says a staff error led to almost two tonnes of GM corn breaching the border in October. He says most of the corn has been planted, and it must be destroyed. Mr Thompson says a full investigation into where the corn has been planted and the extent of the contamination should be completed by Tuesday. The accident has prompted GE Free New Zealand and the Soil and Health Association to reiterate their call for a ban on all corn and maize seeds, until it can be assured they are GM-free. The Green Party says it is appalling the border is so leaky when such a robust system has been set up. They say there is no excuse for MAF staff just waving a shipment through when there was a positive test result with it.
Growers disappointed
The Hawke's Bay Vegetable Growers Association says there needs to be some quick action to remedy the blunder. Scott Lawson, from the association, says it is disappointing there has been another letdown of biosecurity. He says crop growers across the country could be affected and need to be contacted so they know whether they have to remove their corn.
Horticulture NZ says standards have fallen
Horticulture New Zealand says the quality of the country's border control systems has fallen if almost two tonnes of genetically modified sweet corn can pass though it. The organisation's chief executive, Peter Silcock, says New Zealand's GE-free status is important to growers. He says it is likely growers who lose their crops will approach their supply companies for compensation, who in turn will approach the government.
Better testing needed
The Sustainability Council says better testing of seeds at the border would have prevented the accidental importation of the genetically modified sweet corn. The Sustainability Council says more demanding testing at the border would mean that even if the paperwork was incorrectly read, there would be a better chance of finding the contamination. It says it is likely taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the compensation required by farmers whose crops are destroyed.
GM supporters cautious
However, a pro-GM group says more tests are needed on the genetically modified sweet corn, before crops are dug up. Life Sciences Network chairman William Rolleston says GM has been confirmed only in the parent line of seed, and none has been detected in the plants yet. He says the corn may still be fit for human or animal consumption. Mr Rolleston says if analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture shows a negligible risk of the seeds spreading, there is no reason to spend good money digging up the plants. He says the money spent on destroying the crops and compensating farmers is needed for real threats, like foot and mouth or mad cow disease.

Border bungles allows GE contaminated seeds into NZ - National News - By Kent Atkinson of NZPA, NZPA, December 1 2006
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10413398
A bungle at the border has let nearly two tonnes of sweet corn seed into the country to be planted even though it is "contaminated" with genetically engineered seeds. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said today it is investigating how its own quarantine service "inadvertently cleared" two consignments of seed from the United States in October. A total of 1800kg - enough to plant 400ha - "were incorrectly cleared by MAF" even though documentation from the original batches of seeds bulked up for the shipments showed the presence of GE content. Both consignments were accompanied by certificates claiming they had tested negative for GE content. MAF said any GE content that may have entered New Zealand "is present at extremely low levels". New Zealand law - the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act - sets a level of "zero tolerance" for imports of unapproved GE seed in shipments. The documents accompanying the seeds gave no indication of which altered genes had been put into the seeds, or what production traits were being targeted. A MAF spokesman said the department was now checking to see where the seeds were sent and how many had been planted for this summer. "MAF will be working with affected parties to locate all affected material," he said. Matters such as what would be done with plants already being cultivated "will be determined by these discussions".
New Zealand imports about 750 million conventional maize seeds to plant 31,000ha of maize annually. One inadvertent import of GE seed sparked the "Corngate" political row during the 2002 election campaign. In 2005, farmers expressed frustration when a big maize consignment was found to be contaminated by GE material -- endangering export markets -- and proposals were made for as much as 13,500 tonnes of maize to be dumped. They said it was the sixth such incident in the past three years. They have involved genetic material added to seeds to be used as a human or animal food, rather than for production of GE pharmaceuticals. In 2004, nearly 4000 tonnes of corn grown in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Waikato and Northland was found to have traces of GE material. Today, MAF said it was also investigating its own border clearance procedures "to better understand what happened in this case" and to prevent future occurrences.
The Green Party's spokeswoman on genetic engineering, co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, said she was "absolutely shocked and angered". "There is no excuse for this breach - it is just not good enough," she said. New Zealanders did not want to eat GE corn, and export markets showed no sign of accepting GE foods or foods with GE contamination. Ms Fitzsimons, who chaired the Parliamentary select committee inquiry into Corngate, said she thought that a robust system to detect and eliminate contaminated seed had been developed. "It is extremely disturbing to learn that our border is still not secure against GE contaminated seeds," she said. "It is even worse that it has taken two months to discover that." The two-month delay meant most of the seed was likely to have been planted: "There may be little seed left to test." A handful of left-over seeds would not provide a representative sample, and the party wanted leaves of the growing plants to be sampled and tested. "If positive contamination is found, it must be removed and destroyed and the farmers compensated," she said. Ms Fitzsimons said the bungle could be an indication that too many people in MAF still did not take the issue seriously and there needed to be a major shake-up among the people who constituted the nation's first line of defence.

GM problems - The Press, November 4 2006
The Press headline on GM crop tests (p.1, Nov 1) reads as if the brassicas engineered with a bacterial toxin (Bt) are about to be planted. Before this happens, the application must meet the ERMA criteria for GM field trials. In order to meet the criteria, the science involved must be seen to be accurate.
Dr Mary Christey is quoted as saying that there is no scientific evidence of insects becoming resistant to the toxin in GM plants and no evidence that the toxin would harm any other organisms apart from pest caterpillars. Actually, there are many publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals documenting insect resistance to Bt toxin when produced continuously and in relatively high concentrations by GM plants. Similarly, there are many such publications on the harm done to non-target organisms, the most famous case being that of the monarch butterfly larva.
It is time that GM scientists made themselves familiar with all the scientific research relevant to their work.
Dr Elvira Dommisse
Christchurch

GM insect resistance debate continues - Radio New Zealand, 3 November 2006
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200611031441/gm_insect_resistance_debate_continues
Debate continues over whether genetically modified crops will increase resistance within the insect population they are designed to fight.
Crop and Food Research has applied to do field trials on genetically modified brassicas - kale, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli - that produce a natural insect pesticide called bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt. Bt kills brassicas' main enemies - the cabbage butterfly, the diamondback moth and the soybean looper. Former Crop and Food genetic engineering scientist Elvira Dommisse says claims by the research institute that there is no risk of such trials increasing resistance among the insect populations they are targeting are appalling.
Refuges needed
Dr Dommisse says because of problems with insect resistance, Bt crops grown overseas now have to include what are known as refuges - non-Bt plants that will aid the dilution of the resistance gene. This has not been successful everywhere. Tony Connor, a senior Crop and Food scientist who worked on a successful Bt potato trial several years ago, denies that these sorts of crops carry any risk of insect resistance. Dr Connor says the field trials done on Bt potatoes show it would be possible to commercialise the technology and the next step would be to test them on a larger scale. But he says the potato industry won't support any further work at the moment because of the public's negative perception of genetic modification.

Tight security for GM-crop tests - By JANINE BENNETTS - The Press, 1 November 2006 - http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3846168a3600,00.html
Security will be in place to protect field tests for genetically modified vegetables in Canterbury if they go ahead next year. The Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) yesterday received its first application in three years to field-test a GM crop at Lincoln. In 2002, protesters trashed three years of research on GM potatoes by the Lincoln-based company Crop and Food Research. The attack followed an incident in 1999 when the Wild Greens group destroyed a GM potato trial at Lincoln.
Crop and Food Research has applied to field-test brassicas - a class of vegetable including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale - at Lincoln for 10 years. The tests would see the brassicas modified for insect resistance with genes from bacillus thuringensis (Bt), a bacterium normally used as a toxin to repel insects. Crop and Food Research spokeswoman Katherine Trought said the risk of sabotage was always a concern, but field tests had much higher security since the 2002 attack. "The Erma regulations have changed (since 2002)," Trought said. "They're much stricter in terms of test security." Whenever field tests were done, the area was fenced off and had 24-hour surveillance.
Green Party MP and former Wild Greens spokesman Nandor Tanczos said he was no longer involved with the group, which he did not think was still active. Anti-GM campaigners say the proposal is unnecessary and unsafe. Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the proposed GM crops were unsafe because, if commercialised, cross-pollination would affect all other non-GM brassicas. "That is an infringement on the rights of other growers to grow GM-free crops," she said. "There will be the usual issues - that we don't know what other characteristics the plant will have, we don't know what it will do to the food quality, we don't know what it will do to the soil."
Three years ago, Crop and Food Research conducted controversial trials of GM onions. Fitzsimons said she expected more submissions and a greater public outcry than for the 2003 tests. Dr Elvira Dommisse, a former Crop and Research GM researcher, said the tests were unnecessary. "I think you've just got to put things in perspective and ask if there's actually a need for it, and there isn't a need for it," Dommisse said. Insects always evolved and would become resistant to Bt, defeating the purpose of the modification. Dommisse said Bt used in overseas GM crops such as cotton left the people working with the plants with respiratory and skin problems.
Dr Mary Christey, the research leader for the brassicas work, said there was no scientific evidence that Bt used overseas had caused health problems or that insects had become resistant. She said the pesticide killed only caterpillars feeding on the GM plants producing Bt and left the plant virtually undamaged. There were no plans to make a commercial product out of the tests, Christey said. If the product were made commercially, strategies would be put in place to ensure insects did not become resistant to Bt.
Greenpeace campaign manager Cindy Baxter said Greenpeace was "utterly opposed" to the application. "It poses unnecessary and unquantified risks to New Zealand's economy, environment and public health and it has no benefit."
The application will be publicly notified today and public submissions will close on December 12

Brassica trial crazy - Press Release: Soil and Health Association, 1 November 2006, (Soil & Health Association of New Zealand (Est. 1941); Publishers of ORGANIC NZ)
Crop & Food's intended GE Brassica field trial is even crazier than their existing GE onion trial, according to Soil & Health, and move in the opposite direction to the Prime Ministers sustainability vision.
Potential key drawbacks are:
*Early resistance by pests
*Fast spread of GE brassicas and interbreeding contamination
*Contamination of GMO free crops
*Loss of markets through contamination
*Loss of markets through NZ?s Clean Green image loss
*Human and animal health risks
The use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in genetically engineered crops has shown an early build of resistance in pest insects, resulting in the loss of a safe and important tool for many farmers.
Organic producers are able to use Bt and careful use has maintained its benefit without pest resistance. Organic and GMO free producers markets demand products free of GMO contamination.
The current use of Bt poses little risk to humans or stock as the toxin only occurs in the pest caterpillar's gut.
GMO Bt poses risks as the toxin is in every cell of the GM crop including that eaten by consumers and also the pollen and roots.
Brassica pollen travels large distances, the seeds are small and brassicas cross easily, with hundreds of variants in existence. GMO brassicas will be one of the riskiest and dirtiest GMO crops possible.
The use of GMO crops flies in the face of Prime Minister Helen Clark?s vision of New Zealand being in the vanguard of sustainability, with New Zealand being the first truly sustainable nation, said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.
A truly sustainable nation will have no part in GM crops or stock.
Crop & Food's is a State Owned Enterprise whose persistence with experimenting with many vegetable and flower crops that are creeping into field trial applications is contrary to New Zealand's Clean Green image.
Crop & Food are experimenting with a number of brassicas and also tomatoes, cucurbits, onions, asparagus, orchids, cyclamen, snapdragons, pelargoniums, violas and others in their laboratories. A lot more than most are aware of, according to Browning.
"It is time to stop these experiments if there is no serious expectation to grow in New Zealand. New Zealanders have clearly stated that GM crops are not wanted."

NZ Shooting Self in the Foot If GE Trials Allowed - Press Release: GE Free NZ, 1 November 2006
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0611/S00001.htm
GE Free NZ believes the application submitted by Crop and Food to ERMA for a field trial on GM cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli should be withdrawn, or stopped by the New Zealand government. Given the international rejection by consumers of GE foods the application must be regarded as foolhardy and economically unsound, especially in light of the Prime Minister's call for New Zealand to be a leader in sustainability to protect our international markets. The EU and Japan have effectively closed their markets to GM imports in response to the public demand for non-GM food. New Zealand's brand-reputation will be threatened by government-funded institutes pushing down the GE path rather than investing in research into production of clean and natural food that consumers actually want.
"Consumers do not trust GM and the main way it is being sold at all is through deliberate deception and keeping customers in the dark. Even most US shoppers agree with people from around the world that they do not want to be eating unlabelled GE food sneaking into their food-chain," says Claire Bleakley of GE Free NZ. "New Zealand Crown Research Institutes are doing the country a disservice by continuing to pursue GE experiments long after they have reached their expiry date in the real world of consumer markets where the customer is 'right'."
GM crops that have been genetically modified with the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene can make them deadly to catterpillars and butterflies. But over the last ten years pests and diseases have been becoming resistant to the inserted insecticide and in some cases target insects are again damaging the GM crop. "This is short-term thinking that is coming home to roost, and it is poorly conceived science that is to blame" says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ. "The toxin produced by Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a common organic insecticide. When used as a spray, it is non- toxic and easily washed off. However, when the Bt gene is inserted into the plant, the Bt toxin is expressed in every cell and cannot be washed away. It has proven to have a very different environmental effect over time."
The particular crops under threat are also particularly concerning given the brassica (cabbage) family is highly promiscuous. Wrightsons conducted a detailed study on brassicas and discovered that "crosses occur between all species and sub species within the genus" and "seedlot contamination with all brassica species is common but visually difficult to detect". Wind, insects, animals and farm workers can all spread the seed and pollen, resulting in cross-pollination of other cultivated or weedy brassicas.
" While the rest of the world is moving to assisted classical plant breeding techniques using genetic markers to assist, Crop and Food is wasting scarce R&D money on a GM product that no one wants" says Claire Bleakley. "However, most concerning is that overseas experience has started to reveal how the GM techniques being used can negatively impact the health of animals and people. There have been deaths recorded in animals eating Bt foods and severe adverse effects observed in people handling and living near Bt crops."
A ten year study in Australia on peas (Pisum sativum) genetically modified to contain a gene from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Tendergreen) resulted in detrimental effects on the health of laboratory rats. The mice developed antibodies specific to the protein, hypersensitive skin response, airway inflammation and mild lung damage. "Are we to understand that the Government has gone mad with its budget surplus that it will allow its CRI to jeopardise the health of New Zealanders and agricultural economy of the farming sector by allowing GM broccoli,cabbage and cauliflowerfield trials? "
GE Free NZ requests that the government call in the Crop and Food the application.
References:
Wrightsons submission to MAF on protocol for seed testing."Brassica Cross pollination", Dr Stewart Gowers, Forage Brassica breeder, Crop and Food Research.
RI Vazquez Padron et al (1999) Intragastric and intraperitoneal administration of Cry1Ac protoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis induces systemic and mucosal antibody responses in mice. Life Sciences, 64, 1897-1912.
A Pusztai (2001) Genetically modified foods: are they a risk to human/animal health? http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/pusztai.html (and in press).
Impact of Bt Cotton on Farmers? Health (in Barwani and Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh) Investigation Report, Oct - Dec 2005, www.GMWatch_org.htm
Mortality in Sheep Flocks after grazing on Bt Cotton fields, Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh,Report of the Preliminary Assessment, April, 2006 www.GMWatch_org.htm
Chowdhury EH, Kuribara H, Hino A, Sultana P, Mikami O, Shimada N, Guruge KS, Saito M, Nakajima Y. Detection of corn intrinsic and recombinant DNA fragments and Cry1Ab protein in the gastrointestinal contents of pigs fed Genetically modified corn Bt11. J. Animal Science 2003, 81, 2546-51
Vanessa E. Prescott, Peter M. Campbell, Andrew Moore, Joerg Mattes, Marc E. Rothenberg, Paul S. Foster, T. J. V. Higgins, and Simon P. Hogan, Transgenic Expression of Bean -Amylase Inhibitor in Peas Results in Altered Structure and Immunogenicity, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2005, vol 53 (23), p 9023-9030.

Rice Row Prompts Call To Ombudsman - GE Free NZ, 17 October 2006 - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0610/S00192.htm
Inconsistencies in the way food authorities have responded to contamination of US-grown long-grainrice by an illegal GE varient has prompted a call for the Ombudsman to become involved. While New Zealand authorities has rejected calls to test for illegal LL601 GM rice or withdraw at-risk products, the UKFSA has ordered a withdrawal of all LL601 rice from supermarket shelves.
LL601 was engineered by Bayer Crop Science but discontinued in 2001 without any public explanation. It has never been safety-tested for human or animal consumption by any governmental authority. The LL601 contamination has caused Japan and Europe to stop all long grain imports of rice from the USA unless proof is provided that the shipment is not contaminated.
Last week the European FSA said that the LL601 was "not an imminent safety risk". However in a surprise turn around they have now reversed their decision and are calling all supermarkets to withdraw imported US long grain rice from the shelves saying they have "new information" .
"The NZFSA must implement immediate testing of US imported rice and the costs should be carried by the company which holds the patent of the contaminating-rice. We are concerned at the lack of scientific rigour signalled by a refusal to test or remove product, and angered that the costs could end up being socialised onto the public," says Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in Food and Environment .
GM LL601 is an illegal contaminant yet it is understood FSANZ may not even have seen the full range of existing data or the application papers for approval, let alone data from independent tests. There are still no diagnostic tests to see if ingestion of this or other GM products is causing illness.
New Zealand Government Ministers have dismissed the request by GE Free NZ to test for and recall all at-risk rice as "shroud waving". Ministers have even gone so far as to have misled the public by saying this GM rice is tested and proven safe.
The US State Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell told a meeting on Capitol Hill that rice that tests positive for the genetically modified protein (LL601) would go into markets "that aren't objecting." Meanwhile Greenpeace reports finding extensive contamination of foods in the Middle East in common every day US brands.
"It is extremely disturbing that senior ministers are agreeing to the dumping of illegal GM produce on overseas markets that don't "object", and that New Zealand may be one such fall-guy if consumers are kept in the dark," says Claire Bleakley. "We are calling on our Ministers to make clear our national policy which rejects illegal produce on sale in the New Zealand market."
GE Free NZ (in food and environment) has just recieved notice that the Ombudsman is looking into the LL601 rice issue after GE Free NZ wrote to them expressing concerns over the handling of the case by the NZFSA and their inconsitant approach relative to overseas authorities in Japan and Europe.

Cover Up of GM Rice Contamination a Scandal - Press Release: GE Free NZ, 20 September 2006 - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0609/S00037.htm
The UK Independent newspaper's report of an official cover-up of contamination of rice by an illegal GE variant has serious implications for maintaining the integrity of the food supply in New Zealand and overseas. The Independent has revealed that while some countries have banned sales of US long-grain rice because of illegal GE contamination, others have decided to turn a blind eye and allow it to be sold.
It is possible that contaminated long-grain rice remains on sale in New Zealand despite the contaminating variant being untested and unapproved by any authority in any country. "The situation for New Zealand consumers remains unclear as Authorities have deemed information about their action-plan as falling under the Official Information Act," says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment. Until the information is released New Zealand shoppers should consider avoiding any US long-grain rice, and should return unopened packs to the shop for a refund.
Overseas supermarkets have been asked to remove potentially contaminated products from the shelves, and in some countries they have done so.Official assurances that this GE rice variant is safe are not supported by scientists who are demanding more data be released in order to assess the rice.
But a more serious issue is the breakdown of the global system to control where GE products enter the food chain and refusal by some authorities to take action to remove illegal product when it is found. The international community is facing a serious breakdown in regulation of the food system. It is vital action is taken to uphold the law and remove illegal foods from the system. Acceptance of illegal contamination is a slippery slope that will delay establishing a proper monitoring and recall-system. As time goes on this failure puts millions of people at risk from contamination of previously safe and familiar foods.

Experimental GE rice should be stopped at border - Press Release: Green Party, 31 August 2006 - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0608/S00557.htm
New Zealand Food Safety Authority's refusal to take any precautionary action in response to the importation of an illegal, untested, experimental GE rice is leaving consumers vulnerable, the Green
Party says. "The Authority should have immediately moved to suspended imports of long grain rice from the United States and launched a programme to test the level of contamination in the product already here," Safe Food Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says.
Liberty Link Rice 601 (LL601) is experimental, genetically engineered rice. It has not been approved for consumption or cultivation anywhere in the world. Earlier this month the United States Department of Agriculture announced that commercial rice was contaminated with Liberty Link grains. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has confirmed that 'indications are that low levels' of the contaminated rice have been imported into New Zealand.
"Japan immediately suspended all imports of long-grain rice from the USA, and the European Union has announced it will not permit any shipments into Europe unless they carry a clearance certificate assuring that it is not contaminated," Ms Kedgley says. "In New Zealand, however, the NZSFA is doing nothing except issue bland assurances that this rice 'poses no public health or food safety risk'. Given that this experimental rice has never undergone any safety tests, I want to know how the Authority can claim that it poses no public health or food safety risk?" "The Food Safety Authority is mandated to protect consumers and ensure that illegal, unapproved food does not enter the food supply. It has failed abysmally in this case." "This is a classic public relations response by the Food Safety Authority - downplay the risk and reassure consumers that there are no concerns. In this case it seems the Authority is more interested in not upsetting a trading partner than in protecting New Zealand consumers," Ms Kedgley says.

FSANZ food regulator criticised over new GM corn - By Anna Salleh - ABC Science Online - Australian Broadcasting Corporation, August 4 2006
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1705835.htm
Australia and New Zealand's food regulator is failing to apply its own safety standards, or those of international guidelines, in assessing a new-generation GM corn for human consumption, critics say. But Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) defends its so-far favourable assessment of the high-lysine corn, which it says is intended for animal feed and is unlikely to enter the human food chain.
The Centre for Integrated Research on Biosafety at the University of Canterbury has twice formally notified FSANZ of its concerns about the GM corn, LY038, which has been engineered to contain a bacterial gene that allows the accumulation of high levels of lysine. "Among the types of potential hazards that this food poses are the creation of compounds that are known to be associated with important diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer," says centre director Associate Professor Jack Heinemann. Heinemann says while the compounds, advanced glycoxidation endproducts (AGEs), are also produced when cooking conventional foods, he is concerned about potential levels in LY038 corn. He says corn is normally extremely low in the compounds that combine to create AGEs. But he says higher-than-normal levels of lysine in the LY038 and high sugar levels, combining under heat, have the potential to raise AGE levels. "[LY038] has the potential to produce 100 times more [AGEs] than normal corn," says Heinemann.
Draft approval by FSANZ
In March this year FSANZ recommended LY038 be approved as safe for human consumption in a report to its board. "Food derived from corn line LY038 is as safe and wholesome as food derived from other corn varieties," the report says. But the necessary tests to prove the corn is safe for humans have not been done, says Heinemann, a geneticist and former US National Institutes of Health scientist. He says LY038 is the first of a new-generation of GM foods being specifically designed to be nutritionally different from their conventional counterpart. And FSANZ's decision could set a precedent on how such foods are assessed.
Tests of cooked corn?
Heinemann says FSANZ only considered safety tests that looked at raw and not cooked corn. But the international standards-setting body Codex Alimentarius recommends heating, cooking and processing conditions be applied to GM material in an assessment of their safety for human food, says Heinemann. He also says FSANZ only considered 21-day animal studies and not longer ones, which might have picked up diseases like cancer. Heinemann says FSANZ should also look into human feeding studies. Lastly, Heinemann criticises FSANZ's decision to compare the composition of the corn to another GM corn rather than its non-GM parent variety, as recommended by its own advice, and by Codex.
Safety assessment defended
FSANZ says testing was adequate. "We are satisfied that we have all the scientific information necessary to make a sound decision on the safety and nutritional adequacy of high lysine corn LY308," it says. "We have considered the potential for production of AGEs, but have no concerns." FSANZ says Codex only asks regulators to consider testing heated or processed GM foods. But as the raw corn has much lower levels of lysine compared to other foods regularly consumed, FSANZ did not consider the tests necessary. It also says the GM corn used for comparison was a "better comparator than the non-GM parental line". FSANZ says it assessed the corn as if it was any other GM food. "The safety assessment conducted on LY038 is as rigorous and thorough as for any GM food product, and assumes that if approved, corn from line LY038 could be routinely entering the food supply and not present just as an occasional inadvertent ingredient," states FSANZ's report.
Will it enter the human food supply?
FSANZ also says the corn is "unlikely" to end up in human food and is only being assessed as a precaution in case of an accidental mix-up. One such mix-up occurred in 2000, when Starlink GM corn, also intended for animal feed, became mixed in the US food chain. Because it was not registered for human consumption the contamination affected exports and cost the manufacturer a $100 million in lost sales. Canada approved the use of LY038 in the human food supply last month. The FSANZ board is due to consider the corn in late September.

Biotech Firm Seeks Official Approval to Contaminate Food Crops - GE Free NZ press release
Concern is mounting that Food Standards Australia New Zealand are being pressured by international biotech companies to officially approve contamination of food with GE crops designed for industrial and pharmaceutical production. Syngenta have applied to FSANZ to allow a bio-fuel GM corn into the human food chain because of expectations that it will contaminate food anyway. "The biotech companies are admitting that they have inadequate systems to segregate GE crops not intended for consumption." says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ (in food and environment). "But it seems instead of preventing contamination by containing their production, they want government approval to contaminate food so they are not held responsible."
The application to FSANZ (ref 1) says that there are fears corn derived from the genetically engineered corn Line 3272 will mix with corn intended for the food chain and could enter the Australian and New Zealand food supply as imported and processed foods. There are also warnings from scientists and medical professionals that such applications may be just the start of many aimed at officially sanctioning food contamination by pharmaceutical-producing crops.
Professor Joe Cummins from the UK-based Institute of Science in Society (ref 2) says French authorities have already allowed the growing of transgenic maize with monoclonal antibodies known to cause severe and even fatal side-effects in people. If such allowances are made there is a fundamental threat to public health. The very idea of allowing contamination of food by industrial and pharmaceutical crops presages a spiral down into a degraded food supply where few if any foods will remain clean of contaminants.
It is vital no allowances are made for this contamination, and that food authorities ensure segregation, including banning GM production outside a contained lab.
Jon Carapiet 0210 507 681
1) APPLICATION A580- FOOD DERIVED FROM AMYLASE-MODIFIED -CORN LINE 3272
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/IAR_A580_GM_corn.doc
The Extract:
Issue / Problem
Syngenta has developed a thermostable alpha-amylase enzyme (AMY797E) expressed in Line 3272 corn grain for use in the dry-grind fuel ethanol production in the United States.
Microbially produced alpha-amylases are commonly used commercially in the starch-processing step during corn dry-grind and wet milling processing. The purpose of the development of Line 3272 corn is to use the corn grain as the source of amylase enzyme in the dry-grind ethanol production, replacing the addition of microbially produced enzyme.
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/IAR_A580_GM_corn.doc (corn syrup, corn starch, corn chips, canned corn and cornflour etc.).
Before food derived from corn Line 3272 can enter the food supply in Australia and New Zealand, it must first be assessed for safety and an amendment to the Code must be approved by the FSANZ Board, and the decision subsequently notified to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council). An amendment to the Code may only be gazetted, once the Ministerial Council process has been finalised.
Syngenta has therefore applied to have Standard 1.5.2 amended to include food derived from Line 3272 corn grain.
2) This article can be found on the I-SIS website at - http://www.i-sis.org.uk/transgenicMaize.php - ISIS Press Release 27/07/06 - Transgenic Maize with Monoclonal Antibodies Grown in France
Prof. Joe Cummins, Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Peter Saunders from the Institute of Science in Society say this amounts to an illegal massive clinical trial of monoclonal antibodies known to cause severe side effects including death (Warnings on FDA Approved Monoclonal Antibody Drugs, SiS30
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/WOFAMAD.php). They call for banning transgenic crops producing pharmaceuticals and the withdrawal of EU funding for such projects.

Genetically Altered Corn May Cause Diabetes - DiabeticNews.com, June 14, 2006
http://diabeticnews.com/2006/06/14/genetically-altered-corn-may-cause-diabetes/
New Zealand's governmental food standards board may approve a genetically altered type of corn used for animal feed. The Monsanto Corporation produces the new corn called High-Lysine Corn LY038. Monsanto scientists have altered the corn to contain higher levels of the amino acid lysine than is found in other corn varieties. While lysine itself isn't a health risk, if the LY038 variety is cooked with sugars also found in the corn, compounds called AGE's are produced which are implicated in causing Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and several other health conditions.
Even though Monsanto states that LY038 is intended only for animal feed, they made application for approval as a human food so they do not have to keep the altered corn separate from edible corn. The real problem is the government's food agency made no effort to test what the health impact would be if the LY038 were to enter the human food supply. Numerous ways animal feed either can accidentally or deliberately end up eaten by humans is a serious risk. There are many countries with diabetes epidemics, including New Zealand and the United States. Risking our food supply is not worth the risk of potentially increasing the sugar content of food in a diabetic diet or everyday foods.

New Zealand: Food code not grounded on best available science - Thursday, June 08, 2006
The Centre for Research in Biosafety (INBI) is urging the food standards agency to reconsider its draft recommendation to approve a new type of GM corn. INBI has recommended that Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) should not approve Monsanto’s genetically modified high-lysine LY038 corn until further safety studies have been conducted.
FSANZ is the agency responsible for protecting the safety and integrity of food sold in Australia and New Zealand. Monsanto has applied to FSANZ for LY038 to be permitted in the food supply, but has declared that its intention is to market LY038 as animal feed. INBI believes LY038 is the first genetically modified crop plant substantially different in its nutritional profile to be considered for approval as a human food. INBI recommends that safety studies be conducted using GM corn that has been cooked and processed as it is in human food. “The key difference between the use of corn as an animal feed and a human food is cooking and processing, and FSANZ has made no attempt to assess food hazards resulting from cooking or processing of LY038,” said INBI Director and University of Canterbury Associate Professor Jack Heinemann. He said LY038 corn was substantially different to conventional corn in that it has high concentrations of compounds that are known to produce food hazards when heated with the sugars found in corn. “We’ve carefully examined the risk assessment done by FSANZ