Commission to hear closing submissions

News release

Commission to hear closing submissions

Wellington - 12 March 2001: The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification will this week conclude its Formal Hearings with 15 presentations of closing and legal submissions.

The Commission will hear 15 presentations that represent the views of a total 51 "interested persons" during the next four days. The following, in order of appearance, will be making their final statements to the Commission this week:

12 March 2001 New Zealand Life Science Network (representing 26 other "interested persons")

13 March 2001 New Zealand Dairy Board (representing 5 others) Association of Crown Research Institutes (representing 4 others) Environmental Risk Management Authority Greenpeace New Zealand Inc Pesticide Action Network New Zealand

14 March 2001 Pacific Institute of Resource Management Nelson GE Awareness Group Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment GE Free New Zealand in Food and Environment Inc Friends of the Earth A2 Corporation Ltd

15 March 2001 Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand New Zealand Organisation for Rare Diseases & Lysosomal Diseases New Zealand Interchurch Commission on Genetic Engineering

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Copies of the closing and legal submissions and transcripts of the proceedings will be posted on the Commission's website (www.gmcommission.govt.nz).

The Commission will also hear rebuttal evidence from New Zealand Organisation for Rare Diseases & Lysosomal Diseases New Zealand this morning.

These hearings conclude the Formal Hearing component of the Commission's consultation programme. The Commission's final consultation with the New Zealand public will be at a three-day hui at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia on 6, 7 and 8 April 2001.

The Commission is required to report by 1 June 2001.

ENDS

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