Wake up and smell the organic coffee over GE

The Greens fully support the message delivered to the Government today by the organics sector and beekeepers at a rally outside Parliament, calling for the GE moratorium to be extended.

Green Organics Spokesperson Ian Ewen-Street MP said the Government should listen to these latest groups adding their voices to the burgeoning national call to hold off on GE release.

The Green Party today moves an amendment to the latest GE bill (the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill or NOOM Bill) that would extend the moratorium for five years.

"The public is punishing the Government in the polls largely due to its dogged determination to push ahead with undue haste on GE. It's time the Government woke up and smelt the organic coffee," Mr Ewen-Street said.

"The organics sector has an extremely bright future, if it remains free from GE contamination. Export sales and demand are increasing all the time. This is exactly the kind of niche, value-added product the Government claims to support.

"By enacting the NOOM Bill in its current form, and allowing the moratorium to expire, the Government might as well just sign the death warrant for one of our most exciting and innovative industries to ever emerge."

The Organics Sector Rally in Parliament Grounds at 1pm today was organised by the Soil and Health Association of New Zealand, and was joined by representatives from the National Beekeepers Association, MAdGE Wellington, Bio-Gro, the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, OrganicFarmNZ and others.

ENDS

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