GM regulation a waste of money

GM regulation a waste of money

“Regulation proposed by the Northland Councils’ Genetic Modification Working Group would deny Northland farmers choice and cost ratepayers millions of dollars,” the Chairman of the Life Sciences Network, Dr William Rolleston said today.

The working group has suggested a regime of strict liability and exclusion zones controlled at territorial authority level on top of the current legislation.

“Strict liability creates a de-facto moratorium and would deny the community the benefits derived from GM. Genetic Modification is the fastest growing technology in agriculture with over 100 million acres currently under cultivation. Pesticide and energy use have been reduced through GM. In the United States alone the use of GM in agriculture has reduced carbon emissions equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road.

“Exclusion zones would be unworkable and expensive to police. We already see the waste of money ripping out GM corn crops which pose little risk and have been approved in more progressive countries. Money which would be better spent protecting us from the real threats of Foot and Mouth and Mad Cow Disease. Farmers caught in local exclusion zones won’t tolerate being denied the use of a safe technology.

“Any release of a GM organism requires approval by the Environmental Risk Management Authority. This hurdle is already high and further expensive regulation is unnecessary, unwarranted and will stifle innovation and choice,” Concluded Dr Rolleston.

ENDS

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