MAF allow Kate Valley Landfill to become New Zealand’s next GE contaminated site

/in , ,

MAF has allowed Kate Valley Landfill to become New Zealand’s next GE contaminated site, while dodging testing for GE contamination of  more rogue brassica plants at Plant & Food Research’s Lincoln GE brassica field trial site, although MAF’s own rules demanded testing, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ, and GE Free NZ in food and environment.

Soil & Health and GE Free NZ have monitored Plant & Food Research’s genetically engineered (GE) brassica trial site at Lincoln for further contamination following discovering a flowering GE kale there in 2008.

Following their investigation in 2009 which found that other GE brassica had also flowered in 2008, MAF, through a Compliance Order, had then set strict requirements including the testing for GE of all brassica found growing at the site following cultivations beginning in spring and summer 2010, and for 5 years of monitoring after the last brassica seedling was found.

“In spring 2010 Plant & Food Research and MAF agreed to dig out soil likely to be contaminated with GE brassica seed and deep bury it, but ten days ago we have found that another brassica has still emerged,” said Soil & Health-Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“MAF and Plant & Food Research have said they did not need to test for GE because the brassica photographed was a different species to the oleracea used in the trial crop, but they ignored the controls previously set down and the ability of brassica to cross between species, because MAF want to let Plant & Food reduce monitoring to one year rather than the 5 years originally set.”

“They have messed up again and both are now trying to dodge their responsibilities.”

“Soil & Health-Organic NZ photographs from December show the MAF supervised soil removal has clearly spilt soil and seed back into the cleared plot, and all brassica in the plot and surrounding area must be tested for GE contamination for at least 5 years. MAF must stop chopping and changing rules to suit those responsible for one of New Zealand’s worst GE breaches.”

Plant & Food’s spokesman said that what they believe to be a wild turnip was likely to have blown in as seed, although a 2008 trial report stated that wild turnip were already growing there, and MAF’s 2009 investigation said that pollen from the site would unlikely to have been blown more than two metres.

“They can’t have it both ways. These duplicitous statements from MAF and Plant & Food, with earlier support by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), show a need for an independent look at GE risk management in New Zealand,” said Mr Browning.

GE Free NZ in food and environment Inc and Soil & Health-Organic NZ agree that contaminated sites need careful management but creating another contaminated site should only be through a public consultation process.

“The assurances that this toxic GE soil has been properly disposed of are meaningless if the previous GE incidents are an example” said Claire Bleakley President of GE Free NZ.

“This breached site has become a bungled set of untrustworthy and duplicitous platitudes.  The strict protocols, that the public was assured are in place, are being changed and broken at every turn.”

“The removal of GE contaminated soil to Kate Valley landfill, North Canterbury is of concern. The toxic mix of pesticides and GE exudate loaded Plant & Food Research soil from Lincoln, could become mixed with the other highly injurious residues of almost everything imaginable, including multiple chemicals, food processing, hospitality, hospital and veterinary waste, further threatening the environment.”

“Landfill dumps are commonly associated with vermin that burrow into the soil living on the detritus that collects there.  Landfills are a reservoir of contamination, and the movement of any GE contaminated soil not only threatens the countryside but also threatens the health of the community. It is not known where the soil was placed and if it is not totally isolated and clearly marked it could be mistakenly used as fill or leach into the surrounding country side.”

“I shared the concerns of North Canterbury residents when the Kate Valley landfill was first proposed. Never did I think it would also be a site for GE contamination,” said Mr Browning.

“Plant & Food Research must not consider that scraping a foot of soil off a GE site is somehow going to render the site uncontaminated. Horizontal gene transfer associated with genetic engineering has clearly and irresponsibly not been part of the thinking.”

Soil & Health-Organic NZ and GE Free NZ promote organic production and share a vision of an organic Aotearoa New Zealand. With no shortage of brassica species available, no genetic engineering is necessary, neither is contamination of soils. The certified organic properties both in Lincoln and near Kate Valley deserve the expertise that Plant & Food Research and MAF, away from GE, can offer for the growth in organics in New Zealand.

Details of Plant & Food Research’s GE constructs demanded

/in , , ,

Where has Plant & Food Research taken the contaminated soil excavated from its botched genetically engineered brassicas  Lincoln field trial site, and why weren’t stakeholders kept informed of changes to the compliance controls, the Soil & Health Association of NZ is asking.(1,2)

In December 2008 Soil & Health – Organic NZ discovered an illegally flowering  genetically engineered (GE) kale plant (3) and several other flowering brassicas that had set seed pods among weeds at the Lincoln field trial site of Crown Research Insitute Plant & Food Research. (4,5,6,7)

The field trial was immediately closed and following an intensive investigation that revealed other GE flowering events, strict controls were imposed for at least 5 years to limit the spread of any GE material from the site.

“Plant & Food have now extended the contamination by removing the heavily herbicide and GE contaminated soil from the trial site late last year in an effort to reduce compliance effort,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“This soil removal appears to be illegal under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO), although Plant & Food had expressed a commitment to Soil & Health – Organic NZ to meeting whatever new controls were imposed following my discovery of the flowering GE kale in 2008.”

“Plant & Food needs to make public the details of where the soil is, and what exact GE constructs were used in the original trial so that independent testing of crops in the Lincoln area can occur.”

Brassica species include vegetable plants such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, mustard, radish, turnip, rocket, rape, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts,  mizuna and several weeds. Brassicas are able to cross easily between species and Plant & Food grew several GE and non GE brassica species at the site where a weed brassica, wild turnip, was also reported.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ has recent photographs of a brassica and weed seedlings at the Lincoln GE field trial site, although  Plant & Food have removed  contaminated soil to more than 250mm depth, suggesting seed bearing top soil was spilt or the weeds have herbicide resistance.(8,9)

“What GE contaminated soil was spilt during transport from the GE field trial site to its new GE contaminated home?” asked Mr Browning.

“The removed soil is likely to have both seed and soil organisms contaminated by the previous GE program. If the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Biosecurity NZ are complicit in the soil removal, then New Zealand’s GE regulatory system has totally broken down as there has been no public notification or application for a new GE site.”

“Plant & Food’s previous failed GE onion field trial location also needs to be made public, along with the exact GE  constructs used there, so that civil society can ensure independent monitoring of potential contamination in the surrounding area.”

“Soil & Health – Organic NZ is committed to a vision of an organic focused nation where Plant & Food Research and the other Crown Research Institutes resources are committed to a clean green 100% Pure GE Free Aotearoa New Zealand.”

————————-

NOTES:

Photograph Attachments (1)-1630, (2)-1644, (3)-2448, (4)-2388, (5)-2410, (6)-2430, (7)-2450, (8)-2381, (9)-2451

Reference: ERMA New Zealand Inquiry Report INQ08001 GM Brassica Field Test GMF06001

Media Releases On Previous Plant & Food Breaches

http://www.organicnz.org/soil-and-health-press/1096/ngos-visit-ge-field-…

http://www.organicnz.org/soil-and-health-press/1161/maf-biosecurity-nz-a…

http://www.organicnz.org/soil-and-health-press/1185/clean-up-lincoln-cou…

100% Pure USA drive towards New Zealand as a GE nation

/in , ,

Governments phasing out of the winning 100% Pure New Zealand brand, while putting genetic engineering (GE) zealot Dr William Rolleston as Chair of Innovation and also on the Science board of the new Ministry Of Science and Innovation, is a clear sign that New Zealand’s science and production is further headed down a GE track, rather than the clean green 100% Pure New Zealand trail according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ. (1)

“Last week’s announcement that 100% Pure New Zealand is to be replaced by ‘100% Pure You,’ although only weeks before New Zealand had moved from 4th to 3rd strongest country brand in the world, indicates that Pure New Zealand has been given the boot because Government is not prepared to put substance to the branding,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning. (2)

In November, Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said it was great to see brand New Zealand continuing to gain strength, especially in such a highly competitive international market.

“The consistency of the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign has kept New Zealand top of mind, and has made a promise that New Zealand is continuing to keep.” (3)

“Even then that promise was being broken by the Government, with significant commitment to genetic engineering and dumbing down of brand New Zealand,” said Mr Browning.

“Whether it be the dwindling support for sustainable organic production, or Government’s recent $10 million support for Crown Researcher Scion and its USA partner ArborGen’s GE trees experiments, and significantly more for AgResearch and its USA partner, GTC Biotherapeutics, cruel GE animal experiments, the current Government vision has little that is pure about it.”

“New Zealanders are proud of our clean green 100% Pure New Zealand brand, and just as we are proud of our nuclear free status, most New Zealanders and our overseas customers have shown in polls to be opposed to genetic engineering in our environment and production.”

“Inserting Dr Rolleston and other GE proponents into key science funding and policy roles, is a clear statement that this government is a GE government,” said Mr Browning.

“The Government is intent of removing any semblance of independence in the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) , currently tasked with decisions on GE applications.  By ensuring the emerging Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), will ‘put effect’ to Government policy rather than the previous ‘have regard to,’ another sinister element is added to New Zealand’s future GE status.” (4)

“For an EPA to be effective, it must be as independent as possible, and policy for a clean green 100% Pure vision for New Zealand should be driven by those without the type of vested interests that Dr Rolleston and his Life Sciences Network bring.”

Continued United States pressure for the uptake of GE, as revealed by Wikileaks recently and Soil & Health – Organic NZ last year, appears to be coming through in Government action. (5,6)

2010 began with the USA’s Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Senior Science Advisor Nina Federoff visiting New Zealand and promoting GE. At the same time, Terri Dunahay, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) international GE policy specialist, over several months, was promoting genetic engineering for New Zealand agriculture, while given a Fulbright Scholarship seat in New Zealand’s science policy agency, the Ministry of Research Science and Technology (MoRST).

“Dunahay was also given time at ERMA, with her final MoRST-USDA report on the issues affecting the uptake of GE forages in New Zealand farming, suggesting that the New Zealand public should not be able to submit on GE field trial applications and that some GE pollen release was necessary to test environmental effects.”

“The November 4th Hillary Clinton and John Key’s ‘Wellington Declaration’ signing then sealed intent on GE biofuels collaboration and the current government’s end to 100% Pure New Zealand,” believes Mr Browning.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ campaigns against the release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment and food and has a vision of an Organic 2020 in direct contrast to United States foreign policy.

 

Notes:

(1)  http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/boards-key-science-and-innovation-suc…

(2) http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/news-and-features/news/tourism-new-zeal…

(3) http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/news-and-features/news/new-zealand-thir… 100% Pure New Zealand has been used to promote New Zealand as a tourism destination since 1999. Last November, New Zealand was ranked the third strongest country brand in the world by FutureBrands Country Brand Index.

(4) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/news/2010-11-16-epa-bill-introduced.html
ERMA is currently an autonomous Crown entity, slightly more independent than a Crown agent (the Minister can only require an autonomous Crown entity to have regard to, not give effect to, government policy). As one of the government’s objectives for resource management reform is to provide for better central government direction, it is vital that the chosen model allows for central government direction of the EPA. A Crown agent allows for this relationship.

(5) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1012/S00171/wikileak-das-reed-engages-o…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/03/wikileaks-us-eu-gm-crops
(SBU) When asked what the top local impediments will be to concluding an agreement, Sinclair noted a number of areas sensitive to New Zealand. It is “no secret” that Monsanto does not like New Zealand’s genetically modified organism (GMO) regulations, Sinclair said.

(6) http://www.organicnz.org/soil-and-health-press/1235/government-support-f…

GE varroa control no Santa Claus for New Zealand beekeepers

/in , ,

Genetically engineering varroa (Varroa destructor) mites to self destruct is no Christmas present for New Zealand’s beekeepers, according to Soil & Health Association of NZ.

“Any future for New Zealand does not include genetically engineered mites being carried around New Zealand on the back of honey bees, any more than a real Santa Claus with reindeer,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“News today that Aberdeen University’s Dr Alan Bowman has announced a potential mechanism for the inoculation of mites, in a way that silences a gene in the mite, damaging its immune system, is being overstated. The research is in its infancy and potential hazards appear not to have been considered at all.” (1)

“Aberdeen University’s research needs to be seen in a broader ecological context of risk and actual potential success. Certainty would be needed that tampering with the DNA of the mite would not for example sport a mite or virus that is worse than the existing varroa, or have other unintended effects on bees, or affect mites naturally part of an indigenous ecosystem.”

“A more useful curative to varroa than what is currently available would save considerable angst and cost to New Zealand beekeepers, and more benign alternatives than genetic engineering are being researched continuously which would not impact on New Zealand’s largely GE Free status.”

“Pest control in New Zealand using genetic engineering is no more acceptable than growing GE food, forages or forests would be to Aotearoa New Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure trading and tourism brand.”

“The 5 to 10 years of further research and development that Aberdeen suggests is necessary for their postulated GE solution, allows for significant development in less risky alternatives, and research dollars would do well to be directed to those.”

“GE pest control research should always include scientists that are independently capable of imaging the very real risks that go hand in glove with such technology. Too often, research such as from Aberdeen claims potential solutions as part of touting for further research dollars, while completely ignoring the ecological risks,” said Mr Browning.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ wishes for research spending be directed to a GE free and organic varroa solution for Christmas 2011.

(1)   http://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/details-9669.php

Government approval for Scion’s GE Christmas trees

/in , ,

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) released its decision today to allow crown research agency Scion and its partner, United States owned ArborGen, to plant thousands of genetically engineered (GE) pine trees over 25 years at Scions Rotorua site.

“The GE pine trees approval was expected but not as a perverted Christmas tree. We had shown the current site being prepared in July, even before the application was formally received by ERMA, or notified for public submission. This showed ERMA as the Government’s rubber stamper for genetic engineering in New Zealand,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

An ERMA hearing of the Scion application was held 9-10 November with a decision anticipated in January 2011.

“Previous non-compliance by Scion at its GE field trial site was only discovered by Soil & Health-Organic NZ’s inspection as was Plant & Food Research’s flowering GE brassica breach at Lincoln, yet ERMA have now allowed for Scion to apply without public notification for new secret sites.”

“Moving of GE field trials will only further jeopardise New Zealand’s relatively GE free status and environment. The potential GE pine pollen leakage needs to be constrained to one site where the public can exercise a level of independent surveillance.”

ERMA and GE field trial’s auditor MAF-Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF-BNZ) were complicit previously when Scion failed to prune trees according to approval controls, allowing retrospective changes to the approval. MAF-BNZ had also failed to monitor the site correctly as it had similarly with Plant & Food Research’s Lincoln sites.

ERMA’s approval controls for the GE pines are little different than those made for the GE brassicas at Lincoln. Scion’s GE tree scientist Dr Christian Walter appeared and supported Plant & Food’s Dr Mary Christey at the GE brassica ERMA hearing. Soon after, Christie was allowing GE brassicas to flower even though that approval was still before the High Court.

“Dr Walter when presenting to the recent forestry industry conference, gave a very rose tinted outlook for commercial GE trees in New Zealand and absolutely nothing about risks to them or the wider environment or community. Misrepresenting the level of environmental effects research at both commercially focused and regulatory presentations, shows the cavalier attitude of GE scientists wanting permission for field trials in New Zealand,” said Mr Browning.

“Soil & Health-Organic NZ will be monitoring Scion’s latest GE escapade as closely as possible to try and ensure that GE leakage from field trials does not occur. We cannot rely on the scientists or government agencies entrusted with that responsibility.”

Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020 that supports new Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure GE free trading image.

Country of Origin Labeling needs to follow ban on sow crates

/in , ,

The banning of sow crates before 2016 is great news considering the efforts by Soil & Health-Organic NZ, the Green Party, SAFE and other NGOs in calling for such a ban, but subsidising cruel operators during the phase out as indicated, is not fair on the organic and free range pork producers who have already been using more animal friendly methods of production, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ.

“Rewarding recalcitrant animal abusers sends a message to other farming sectors that animal welfare changes need only come with government support,” said Soil & Health-Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Agriculture Minister David Carter has done well to broker a deal with the pork industry, but he could have also achieved a reward for all good farmers by implementing Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling and banning imports of meat that are produced to a lower standard than New Zealand.”

“SAFE has pointed out that there will still be potentially 15,000 sows putting up with barbaric  sow crates ahead of the ban’s enforcement, and there needs to be consumer labeling warning of pork products sourced from such processes, if there is going to be a speedy phase out.”

“Well done to the animal activists who have repeatedly brought examples of barbaric animal welfare to the public. Battery hens must be next.”

Soil & Health-Organic NZ has a vision of an Organic 2020 where best practice animal welfare is the norm. Organic farming has strict rules to ensure high animal welfare practices.

The new Animal Welfare Code of Practice for pigs is available at with the Sow Crate excerpt further below

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/animal-welfare/req/codes/pigs/…

Minimum Standard No. 11 – Managing Dry Sows
(a) Sows may only be confined in mating stalls for service for no longer than one week.
(b) Where sows and mated gilts are group housed, they must be managed to minimise the effects of aggression.
(c) Where sows and mated gilts are housed in dry sow stalls, they must be able to stand in their natural stance without contact with any side of the stall and be able to lie comfortably on their sides without disturbing neighbouring sows.
(d) Sows in stalls must have a dry, smooth, non-slip sleeping area.
(e) Between 3 December 2012 and 3 December 2015 mated sows and gilts must not be confined in dry sow stalls for more than four weeks after mating.
(f) After 3 December 2015 mated sows and gilts must not be confined in dry sow stalls after mating. If individually confined in a pen, sows must have sufficient space so that they can stand up, turn around without touching the walls, and lie comfortably in a natural position, and be provided with separate dunging, lying and eating areas.
(g) Individual pigs that are not coping well must be provided with alternative management.
(h) Pigs must not be restrained by tethering.

ERMA decision making challenged in the High Court again

/in , ,

ERMA’s loose GE decision making is again being challenged in the High Court according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ (Soil & Health – Organic NZ).

Genetically engineered (GE) animals are once again subject of an appeal by GE Free NZ in the Wellington High Court. GE Free NZ in food and the environment Inc (GE Free NZ) had previously been successful in appealing an Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) decision allowing a broad approach to GE experiments on cattle, sheep and goats, but that was later overturned by the Court of Appeal on procedural grounds.

“The current High Court hearing beginning at 10am Wednesday 24 November  is another appeal by GE Free NZ against the ERMA decision to allow sheep, goats and cows to be genetically engineered by AgResearch in potentially hundreds of thousands of combinations from a vast list of potential proteins and genes,” said Soil & Health-Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“By granting such a broad brush application ERMA has not given the public the ability to comment on the individual risks of each new organism that AgResearch intends to develop. The cultural offensiveness of using genetic material from other species in modifying farm animals has been aggravated in the application by the new combinations not even being clearly identified.”

“Soil & Health-Organic NZ will be attending the hearing in support of GE Free NZ who is being represented by Barrister Tom Bennion.”

“Soil & Health-Organic NZ has previously commissioned a Colmar- Brunton poll which clearly identified that most New Zealanders were against genetic engineering of animals, and the vast majority of the 1545 submissions to the original application by AgResearch were opposed to the inability to identify the outcome of AgResearch’s experiments, yet ERMA ignored the law that requires identification of a new organism,” said Mr Browning.

Soil & Health-Organic NZ has recently appeared at an ERMA hearing in opposition to the genetic engineering of thousands of pine trees at Rotorua, where intended experimentation was again broad, although appeared to be narrowed to approximately 50 different GE tree lines. AgResearch has applied for an undefined and almost infinite number of potential lines, with unidentified risks.

Soil & Health-Organic NZ commends GE Free NZ for its work on ensuring ERMA uses correct process in its decision making. Soil & Health believes GE animals have no place in a clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand and has a vision of an Organic 2020.

Government support for GE trees contradicts clean green image

/in , ,

Todays Environmental Risk Management Authority  (ERMA) hearing at the Novotel Hotel in Rotorua to consider the application by Crown Research Institute Scion to field trial thousands of genetically engineered (GE) trees  is a farce according to the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand.

“ERMA will grant the GE trees application regardless of the submissions because it is under government and United States pressure to do so,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

Government has put $10.8 million science funding into the project and with pro-GE  forestry interests actively lobby’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and international forums such as the Convention of Biological Diversity and the World Trade Organisation along with the USA, for acceptance of GE forestry.

“Soil & Health – Organic NZ, and other submitters are presenting at today’s hearing  in Rotorua to hold ERMA and Scion accountable for the complicity and reckless attack on New Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure brand. GE has no place in the New Zealand environment and the government should know this.”

“Scion, ERMA and MAF have collaborated previously to reduce the fallout when Soil & Health-Organic NZ exposed serious breaches at Scion’s GE tree site.”

“New Zealand can’t have a bob each way on GE and sustainable production. Agriculture Minister David Carter, the Prime Minister, cabinet and treasury all know that clean green 100% Pure is a very valuable asset for New Zealand trade and tourism, but seem hell bent on bowing to Hillary Clinton’s US corporate interests to allow GE into New Zealand.”

“Agriculture Minister David Carter not long returned from meeting with Prince Charles and observing the consumer end of high value sustainable production, needs to tell New Zealanders unequivocally whether he supports GE in New Zealand forestry and agriculture or not.”

“Prince Charles  who was able to advise the Minister on profitability issues in wool, a natural fibre, could also have told the Minister that New Zealand going down the GE route would be madness. The Prince told me that when he visited New Zealand last,” said Mr Browning.

“Clinton’s team are on another mission and it is not sustainability or clean. The US biofuel experiment is costing massive subsidies from US taxpayers and is not sustainable.”

“Pollen spread by Scion’s multi-million dollar GE tree partner ArborGen is the basis for legal action in the United States. ArborGen is protesting that restrictions on new US field trials will mean they may have to cut down other GE trial trees that are already flowering there. They now are pushing for GE forestry in New Zealand.”

“Hillary Clinton and John Key’s Wellington Declaration, including ‘renewable energy’ collaboration, needs to be publicly fleshed out to expose any smell of GE.”

“ArborGen is very involved with GE biofuels development in the USA and aims to be the Monsanto of the tree world. ArborGen, although approximately 93% USA owned, is Australasia’s largest tree stock producer and much of New Zealand’s forestry business in now USA owned.”

“In January, Hilary Clinton’s Science and Technology Advisor Nina Federoff came to New Zealand pushing GE through a series of unbalanced presentations. At the same time, Terri Dunahay, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) international GE policy specialist was promoting genetic engineering for New Zealand agriculture, while given a Fulbright Scholarship seat in New Zealand’s science policy agency, the Ministry of Research Science and Technology (MoRST).”

“Dunahay was also given time at ERMA, with her final report on the issues affecting the uptake of GE forages in New Zealand farming, suggesting that the public should not be able to submit on GE field trial applications and that some GE pollen release was necessary to test environmental effects.”

“Scion’s GE field trials are part of a drive for GE tree commercialisation here in New Zealand and overseas, and Scion Senior Scientist – Team Leader Future Forests gave a misleading presentation to the Forest Owners Association conference in October, leaving out the significant drawbacks of investment in GE and the environmental and social damage that GE has caused internationally.”

“New Zealand trades on a clean green 100% Pure brand and the best value customers for New Zealand’s exports are the discerning consumers that choose GE free, animal friendly, sustainably produced and organic type products. Thousands of those potential customers submitted in opposition to the NZ raised GE trees exported for ArborGen trials in the USA, and New Zealand needs to dissociate itself from any further experiments immediately.”

GE trees have risks of new allergens, increased herbicide use associated with numerous illnesses including epilepsy and cancer, non-GE crop contamination, ecosystem collapse, and also the use of terminator type technology that is internationally frowned on. Most New Zealand trees are grown to Forest Stewardship Council standards that currently prohibit the use of GE trees.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ have a vision of a clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand that strives for organic production for the best value markets that support genuine sustainability.

 

Soil & Health – Organic NZ notes

  • Terminator gene technology is intended although still hotly debated internationally as to its acceptability.
  • The application is intended for thousands of experimental GE trees with a very wide variety of GE experimental options.
  • Previous study of environmental effects at Scion’s GE tree field trial site was inadequate, brief and as yet the research is not academically peer reviewed or published.
  • The risk of pollen drift is heavily downplayed in the application, yet will be the obvious main risk, and on past Scion practice is a likely outcome.
  • ERMA state that controls mean that pollen drift is unlikely. ERMA stated the same for the Plant & Food GE brassica application, but leakage happened there. Scion have already had pollen catkins appear unexpectedly on poorly managed GE tree seedlings at the Rotorua site.
  • Maori consultation has given a mixed level of support with some strong objection and questioning of the appropriateness of this technology in New Zealand.
  • Herbicide tolerant trees will only aggravate the already OTT use of herbicides in NZ forestry should the technology be commercialised here as Scion and its USA partners intend. International GE tree giant ArborGen is nearly totally USA owned, with even the 3rd share of ArborGen by NZ company Rubicon more than 80% USA owned. The other 2 ArborGen components are by huge USA companies.
  • The overt partnership with ArborGen places Scion and hence New Zealand internationally as instigators of a new environmental threat. Opposition has been strong in several parts of the globe, with the strongest direct action being the 2006 destruction of millions of GE eucalypts in Brazil by 2000 local women.
  • GE trees are seen as riskier than GE crops because of their longevity and strong position in ecosystems
  • Soil & Health – Organic NZ is opposing the application and has previously exposed several issues of non-compliance by Scion at its Rotorua GE field trial site.
  • This application has been seen as having an assured approval by ERMA as Scion had already been preparing an intended field trial site although denying it previously. The site may change.

Methyl bromide decision equals toxic business as usual

/in , ,

The reassessment decision today by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) of the toxic and ozone depleting fumigant methyl bromide, disappointingly means business as usual for the timber industry and exporter-importers for up to 10 years according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ.(1)

Methyl bromide gas is used primarily as a pest control fumigant for imported and exported goods with New Zealand’s increasing log exports being the largest user. New Zealand has an obligation under the Montreal Protocol On Substances That Deplete The Ozone Layer to minimize methyl bromide emissions and recover and recycle to the extent possible, but Soil & Health – Organic NZ believe that by leaving a 10 year window of use, ERMA’s decision is minimal in recognition of the severely damaging effect methyl bromide has on climate change.(2)

Specific points regarding the decision

·         Buffer zones as little as zero and 10 metres from communities.

·         ERMA has downplayed potential risks to human health.

·         No stenching agent for smell detection of the odourless, invisible gas.

·         No transitional reduction targets until mandatory recapture in 10 years.

·         Recapture of gas would only cost 2.7% of current log exports value.

·         Local communities to decide adequate protection for their regions.(3)

·         No air modelling required determining effectiveness of monitoring.

·         Log exports expected to triple within 5 years.

·         Previous common soil fumigant use previously replaced by more toxic methyl iodide.

·         Limited soil use against potato wart in residential areas by MAF-Biosecurity NZ.

“There are no provisions in today’s decision that substantially improve protection of communities or the ozone layer from methyl bromide’s toxic or depleting effects over the next decade,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Infrastructure for the recapture or recycling of methyl bromide could be implemented much sooner. This is a decision based on economics not human or environmental health.”

“Monitoring of the extremely toxic, invisible, odourless and tasteless gas is left to presumptions of where the gas might go and ERMA totally avoided the subject of air modelling in its decision.”

“Buffer zones for communities may be as little as 10 metres from release points of the gas, and just 25 metres for childcare facilities, schools, hospitals or long-term care facilities. Exemptions may be applied for if a buffer is too logistically awkward for a business.”

“ERMA has once again used economics as the driving force for a decision that has grave health implications for workers, communities and the environment; the Environmental Risk Management Authority has once again abdicated its environmental responsibilities and is truly the Economic Risk Management Authority with big business as the primary benefactor.”

“While committing to using increasing amounts of an internationally rejected gas, New Zealand has the engineering capacity and ingenuity to recycle and recapture in a much smaller time frame than that set by ERMA,” said Mr Browning.

‘Clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand has made a weak attempt to show it is meeting its global responsibilities by currently imposing a 10 year limit on open release of methyl bromide gas, but in line with the expected tripling of log exports within 5 years, methyl bromide use will significantly increase before any real attempt will be made for recapture.”

Soil & Health – Organic NZ has campaigned for decades against the use of methyl bromide use and has a vision of an Organic 2020.
Notes

(1)   http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/news-events/methylbromide/index.html

(2)    New Zealand has an obligation under the Montreal Protocol to: refrain from use of methyl bromide and to use non-ozone-depleting technologies wherever possible. Where methyl bromide is used, Parties are urged to minimise emissions and use of methyl bromide through containment and recovery and recycling methodologies to the extent possible;

(3)   The Committee notes the concerns of Nelson City Council which suggested that the minimum buffer zones proposed in the reassessment application may conflict with local requirements under the RMA. It is very important to emphasise that these minimum buffer zones do not preclude regional councils, unitary authorities or port authorities from setting more stringent controls (e.g. larger buffer zones) if they deem them necessary because of local conditions. The Committee notes that section 142(3) of the Act specifically envisages situations where a local authority may choose to impose more stringent requirements on the use of a hazardous substance than that required under the Act.

NZ food samples still stacked with pesticide residues

/in , , ,

Joint Media  Release:
Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand
and
Soil & Health Association of New  Zealand (Est. 1941), Publishers of ORGANIC NZ

——  ——

  • Pesticide residues found in 93% of targeted fruit and vege samples
  • Prohibited endosulfan again in cucumber samples
  • 11 out of 23 Pak choi samples with residues exceeding allowable levels
  • 26 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples
  • One grape sample containing 10 different pesticides
  • Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides

The Soil & Health Association and the  Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa NZ are calling for an attitude change in New Zealand’s food safety regulators following two very similar pesticide residue result reports in 3 months, and, despite evidence to the contrary, continued assurances that there is no food safety issue.

In the latest results food tested for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), from 152 samples, just 7% had no pesticide residues and there were 18 examples of residues above Maximum Residue Limits. Foods sampled were bananas, Bok or Pak choi, broccoli, cucumber, grapes, nectarines, oranges and wheat.

Among 22 of 24 grape samples there were 26 different chemicals found with one grape sample containing 10 different residues, another with 8, another 7, four with six, four with 5, six with four different residues, and only two each with 2 or 3 residues. Only 2 grape samples had no detectable residues.

All broccoli, nectarines and oranges contained pesticide residues. Organic produce is not expected to contain any synthetic pesticide residues; however the few grapes and other produce not containing residues were not identified by production method.

“NZFSA is privy to the science proving the danger of pesticides, especially in mixtures, but fails to acknowledge the risks to consumers,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Cancers, endocrine disruption, foetal abnormalities, neurological disease and many other conditions have been proven to be associated with pesticides as found in NZFSA residue surveys, yet in the name of trade, NZFSA, Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) continue to allow unnecessary chemical use and residues.”

“There are organic means of production that do not necessitate use of synthetic chemicals, that also provide more nutritious and safer food than the New Zealand food regulators are supporting. It is time for a new focus on food production and safety.”

“As in the last survey results, the banned chemical endosulfan has once again been found in cucumbers, and half of the Bok and Pak choi samples had illegal residue levels,” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The countries of the European Union are all embarking on developing national pesticide reduction policies, and once again New Zealand is lagging behind.”

“Despite discussions with the Food Saftey Authority over a number of years, we have not been able to get them to even acknowledge that reducing residues in our food would be a good idea.”

“The EU is also working to find ways of addressing the problem of increased toxicity from exposure to multiple pesticides, yet NZFSA still will not acknowledge that such a thing exists, let alone the need to reduce exposures to multiple chemicals.”

“What will it take for the NZFSA to catch on to the problem? A 93% rate of contamination of our food supply with pesticides is totally unacceptable,” added Dr Watts.

“A fresh approach to food and community safety is needed in New Zealand,” said Mr Browning.

“With continued strong growth in organics internationally, it is time that organic production targets such as in Soil & Health’s Organic 2020 vision, were taken on for the well being of New Zealand’s environmental, economic and human health”
 

Latest test samples showing detectable residues.

Banana             1 of   24 with no detectable residue
Choi                   1 of  23
Broccoli             0 of  24
Cucumber         6 of  25
Grapes               2 of  24
Nectarines        0 of  4
Oranges            0 of  24
Wheat               1 of  6

REFERENCES from the 28 July joint media release. All remain pertinent.
(1) Results can be found on  the NZFSA website at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/food-residues-surveil… July 2010 results spreadsheet, season 1 [Excel 59 KB  or through http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2010/2010-07-26-frs…
(2) Chlorothalonil is a fungicide in the same family as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol. In New Zealand, Chlorothalonil is applied to a variety of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals for the control of various diseases including among others powdery mildew, blackspot, botrytis, blight, and leaf spot. It is also used in antifouling paints and timber antisapstains.
(3) Lodovici, M. et al 1994,1997 http://tiny.cc/goony  or http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCN-3RH123D-6… These results indicate that the toxicity of low doses of pesticide mixtures present in food might be further reduced by eliminating diphenylamine and chlorothalonil.
Kortenkamp &  Backhaus. 2009.  State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity. Final  Report .Executive Summary. 22 December 2009.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/report_Mixture%20toxicity…. “Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from chemical mixtures and not from individual substances. This clearly underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures.”
(4) http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-us/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=femal…
(5) http://checkorphan.getreelhealth.com/grid/news/all/individuals-who-apply… and  http://tiny.cc/rgl83  orhttp://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/25/63…