Backing for Local Right of Protection Against Risks of GMOs
The Environment Court decision recently released [1] has upheld the right for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, in its
Regional Policy statement, to place wording for a precautionary approach to be taken on the growing of genetically
modified (GMO) crops in the region. It also has given Councils the right, after the appropriate processes have been
fulfilled; to place policies and rules around the GMO land use activities, if they are deemed to be of regional
significance by the community. Councils can now be forward thinking by identifying emerging issues that require a
precautionary approach to protect their people, local environment and economic wellbeing.
The Rotorua based Crown Research Institute (CRI), Scion, who are developing genetically engineered pine trees with
altered reproductive traits and resistance to herbicide applications, challenged the Regional Council wording and sought
to remove any reference to GMO’s in the preamble of the Regional Policy statement. After two rounds of mediation there
was no consensus achieved, the case against the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and five 274 parties went to a one day
hearing in the Environment Court, Tauranga. GE Free NZ were one of five 274 parties who presented witness statements on
behalf of their members in the region.
“We are very pleased with the Environment Court decision and welcome the protection and precaution it signals to all
rate paying communities. It is fundamental to democracy that farmers and residents all over the country are able to have
a say on land-use issues in their region, especially when livelihoods and economic wellbeing are under threat from
unknown risks of new technologies like GMO’s,” said Claire Bleakley, president of GE-Free NZ.
“There were two attempts at mediation, but Scion refused to accept the wording put forward. We believe that it was
unprincipled for the CRI to use the taxpayer’s money to try and shut down the community voice in this way."
Minister for the Environment Amy Adams has said she will change the Resource Management Act (RMA) to disallow any ruling
on genetically modified organisms by councils, arguing that such a ruling was the place of the central government under
the Hazardous Substance and New Organisms Act (HSNO). However the Environment Court has noted that it was a
recommendation of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification (RCGM)[2] that Councils, through the RMA could place
land-use designations for genetically modified organisms.
"We would like to thank our lawyers for their excellent arguments, the 274 parties and our supporters" said Mrs.
Bleakley “As the Royal Commission highlighted, if GMO risks are left unaddressed community conflict over GMO
contamination could destroy good neighbourliness, as is being seen in the pending "Steve Marsh" court case [3] in
Australia starting on the 10th February".
References:
[1] Decision on ENV-2013-AKL-146 NZ Forest Research Institute Ltd (Scion) v Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 18 Dec 2013 http://www.gefree.org.nz/ge-free-court-actions/
[2] Royal Commission on Genetic Modification Chapter 13 – Major Conclusions: preserving opportunities. http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/organisms/royal-commission-gm/chapter-13.pdf
ENDS