ACT Welcomes Lifting Of GM Moratorium

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Ken Shirley today welcomed the lifting of the moratorium on the commercial release of genetically engineered organisms.

"ACT has always supported the cautious application of GM technology in keeping with the recommendations of the Royal Commission," Mr Shirley said.

"The New Zealand economy is heavily dependent on products derived from the land, including forestry, agriculture, horticulture and viticulture.

"New Zealand is a biological-based economy. To remain internationally competitive, we must embrace new technologies.

"We have one of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, and ERMA, a regulatory body that will ensure the necessary checks and balances are in place.

"ACT never supported the moratorium in the first place. It served no useful purpose other than to give the fanatical Greens an opportunity to run an extended campaign of GM scaremongering.

"Any acts of sabotage by green fanatics who refuse to respect the property rights of others must be dealt with harshly," Mr Shirley said.

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