GM onions research has not breached rules

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA New Zealand) says Crop and Food Research has not breached biosecurity rules in its research involving genetically modified (GM) onions.

ERMA New Zealand was responding to suggestions that Crop and Food may have been operating illegally in importing GM onion seed from the United States.

ERMA New Zealand has checked the relevant approvals and all are in order. General Manager, New Organisms, Dr Libby Harrison says: In November 2004 when the approval to import the GM onion seed was reviewed by ERMA New Zealand, we found a very minor administrative error Crop and Food had used the wrong form. They corrected the error and everything complies with the rules.

Crop and Food is currently field testing onions modified to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, sold as Roundup. MAF audits the GM onion field test every six months, most recently on 16 March this year. In March, it found one minor administrative error; that Crop and Food needed to revise their containment manual. This was promptly done.

The regulatory regime for genetically modified organisms in New Zealand is one of the most stringent in the world. Every step in the research process has been assessed and approved by the appropriate authorities, Dr Harrison says