The King Salmon genetic engineering trial could be stopped by Christmas, Alliance Leader Jim Anderton said today following news that eggs from GE salmon trial may have escaped.

The Alliance Moratorium on Genetically Engineered field trials bill is ready to go and could be passed before Christmas.

The Alliance Bill would halt field trials of GE foods until a royal commission reported on the safety and desirability of holding such trails in New Zealand.

'We just cannot continue to take the risk of genetically engineered organisms entering our eco-system.

The announcement came while he was visiting ERCO, a New Zealand manufacturer of GE free foods in Auckland today.

'ERCO is the future of our food based industries. We should be using New Zealand's clean and green image to sell GE free foods to the rest of the world.

'I have a vision of a GE food free New Zealand. The Alliance will advance our GE moratorium bill as soon as we are the heart of a new government.

'New Zealand's green image would be completely shattered if genetically engineered plant and animals escape into the countryside.

'These salmon were previously investigated as having deformities. We cannot continue to take the risks for short term commercial gain.

'There is too much at stake. A party vote for the Alliance will mean that these kind of field trials will be stopped until there is a inquiry into the issues surrounding GE in New Zealand,' Jim Anderton said.

Visit http://www.alliance.org.nz for more information about the Alliance

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