Public Hearing On GM Horse Flu Vaccine

MEDIA RELEASE

30 July 2008

Public Hearing On GM Horse Flu Vaccine

A public hearing on an application to use a genetically modified equine influenza vaccine has been scheduled by ERMA New Zealand for mid September in Wellington. Public submissions on the application have now closed.

Acting General Manager New Organisms Geoff Ridley said a total of 29 submissions had been received on the New Zealand Racing Board and the Equine Health Association application to import the Proteqflu and Proteqflu Te vaccines which contain a GM component.

The application is the first for a conditional release of a GM organism in New Zealand.

Equine influenza (EI) caused major disruption to the Australian horse racing and breeding industries last year, with a knock-on effect for the New Zealand industry with horses stranded across the Tasman.

The Proteqflu vaccine was used in Australia to control the outbreak, and that country has now been declared to be EI free.

ERMA New Zealand is preparing an Evaluation and Review Report on the application which will analyse the risks, costs and benefits of the GM vaccine. It will also look at the types of conditions that could be placed on the vaccine if it were to be approved.

This report will be a source of information to a decision-making committee of the Authority which will consider potential adverse effects on public safety and health, valued species, societies and communities, the economy, the environment and natural habitats. The decision-making committee will use information provided by public submissions and other relevant sources as well as the ERMA New Zealand report in reaching its decision.

ERMA New Zealand's responsibility is limited to the GM micro-organism component of the vaccine. Approval to use the vaccine must also be obtained from the NZ Food Safety Authority's Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines group.

ENDS

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