GE Free In Food and Environment

Newsletter Summer 2005 * Please note that some articles have been abbreviated in order to meet size constraints *

agriculture that formed the basis of believe Marian Hobbs is deliberately Terminator …call to action human civilization, but also threatens misleading the public about New the livelihoods of hundreds of millions Zealand's backing for Terminator NZ Govt Backs Terminator!!! of people around the world as well as genes, and may be covering up the 11/02/05 After being swamped by the environment and human health. fact that similar technology is already protest emails and letters, the Canadian being trialled in the field in this The biotech industry appears incapable government was forced to soften its country. of controlling its products, and by public position on Terminator at a failing to stop GE contamination United Nations meeting in Bangkok. The Minister has been asked to threaten world food security. "This is a Canada’s aim to reinstate trials and use support an international moratorium wake-up call for New Zealand farmers of Terminator genes by overturning a on development of Terminator seeds and the public at large: companies are worldwide ban on GE Terminator until the fundamental societal issues setting their sites on our food supply in Technologies (GURTS) was backed have been scrutinised by the world ways that will be detrimental to the only by the Governments of New community and has refused. She has Public Good." says Jon Carapiet. The Zealand & Australia. not been honest about the fact that NZ government has repeatedly backed GURTs caused international alarm ERMA appear to have approved GE the US at the WTO forcing GE foods because of the dire implications it has pine tree trials of a different "GURT" on other countries and limiting for food security and sustainable (Genetic Use Restriction Technique) regulatory control. Government must farming. Some GURTS even require a at Rotorua understood to include some back NZ farmers and the public proprietary chemical to be applied with the "barnase" gene construct - against the threat to legitimise before seeds start growing at all, another approach to genetic control. Terminator. fuelling fears of the impact of GURT’s Firstly the Minister misled the media on the environment due to increased Marian Hobbs is wrong to promote by implying she is being unreasonably chemical use. Terminator as a bio-containment asked to support a "ban" rather than a Terminator technology inserts a gene technique, as the technique creates moratorium on Terminator seeds. Her sequence that renders seeds sterile, sterile seeds but viable pollen, which press statement says "Marian Hobbs (the pollen remains viable and can can contaminate other crops, making rejected a call to (support a) ban on infect other crops) thus forcing farmers their seed sterile. It was developed to field tests for terminator genes raised to buy seeds each year and ending the ensure farmers buy new seeds each in the report" and in a personal right of farmers to save their seeds. year. response to messages, states: "It is Recently Iraqi farmers were banned important to note that countries are not from saving seeds under directive 81 Write to the following MPs at presently being asked to vote on from US administration there. Freepost, Parliament. or banning or otherwise of the use of GE Free NZ asked our government to Email: GURTs". support the international community and block moves by the Canadian Helen Clark [email protected] The Minster's main advisors failed to government to authorise Terminator correct a misleading impression of seeds, but they supported Canada in a Jim Sutton [email protected] avoiding the question about a betrayal of New Zealand national MarianHobbs worldwide moratorium on Terminator. interest and the NZ public will. [email protected] Talking generalisations about GURTS, not specifically about International consensus states Pete Hodgson Terminator seeds, Hobbs dodges the terminator technology is a threat to [email protected] ethical question facing the basic human rights and the food Jim Anderton international community. “Our supply. Biotech companies agreed not [email protected] government must keep faith with the to commercialise it, so recent moves to Minister Misleading Public Over public and the world by promising GE Terminator Trials. 16/02/05 Terminator in food is not next on the authorise Terminator are not only a GE Free NZ in food and Environment direct attack on thousands of years of agenda." GE Free New Zealand In Food & Environment Summer Newsletter February 2005 Page Page 1 "Buyer Beware" Action needed Take Action over people: its deceptive and demands over Misleading GE Labels action misleading GE Labels · This is a consumer rights and human Some years ago government reassured rights issue as well as one of cultural the public that we would be allowed Stagg Chilli Bean- Vegetable Mix- values, ethics, and safety to health and the choice to avoid GE/GM foods targeted at vegetarians- is one of the the environment. through a clear labelling system. So I first GE products to be 'labelled' as the · There is a higher incidence of people was shocked to find the first GE law requires, but in small print on the wanting to be clearly told if a product products appearing on supermarket ingredients list rather than the clearer is GE or not than needing to be shelves, under the new rules, and labels previously promised. warned about peanut allergens or on- angered that I was nearly conned into Please check out the label yourself, if pack messages such as "see the taste" buying it. you agree it is unsatisfactory complain · Supermarkets may be exposed to to the Commerce Commission, the liability for emotional or physical What appeared to be tasty, low-fat manufacturer, supermarket companies, Chilli Beans perfect for vegetarians damage if someone eats this product Food Authorities & Judith Tizzard unknowingly and unwillingly. The was not at all my taste in food. It was MP. See label already in my shopping basket when Australian Insurance Council has Hormel says it has now received warned manufacturers using GE may by chance I spotted "corn: genetically over 1000 emails, and is thinking modified" in tiny print in the be held liable through "asbestos-style" about withdrawing the product. lawsuits in decades ahead. ingredient panel. But 'chance' it seems Convince them to remove it.Contact: is good enough for New Zealand · Supermarkets need to keep faith with Hormel (Manufacturer) 09 379 5350 their customers. Even if the label is consumers as far as the Grocery [email protected] industry and the authorities are "legal" retailers should not stock this Foodtown/Woolworths product or should properly inform its concerned. [email protected] customers using a shelf sticker or The manufacturer and the owners of 0800 40 40 40 09 275 2788 visible sign. my local supermarket- Progressive Pak n Save / New World Giant experiment aims to compile a Enterprises, say the labelling meets the : 09 621 0600 photo file of products with labels letter of the law, believe if people are Wellington: 04 527 2510 identifying that they contain GE misled into buying a product because South Island: 03 353 8700 ingredients. If you have seen others, they miss the GE label then it's their [email protected] snap a photo of the label and email it own fault. Unfortunately the Commerce Commission to: [email protected] Commerce Commission agrees. It says 0800 943 600 (Fair Trading that even if people are misled it is complaints) PO Box 2351 Wellington GE cotton for use in NZ foods powerless to prosecute or require [email protected] 10/02/05 The trans-Tasman food clearer labelling because the rules are standards authority says it is safe to set under "Food Standards" and can Food Safety Authority eat foods containing ingredients made only be changed by our politicians. 0800 693 721 or 04 473 9942 from some GE cotton. Food Standards Once again industry and the authorities [email protected] Australia New Zealand FSANZ seeks are busy passing the buck leaving the public submissions, by March 23, on consumer playing piggy in the middle. Judith Tizzard, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Parliament Buildings the use in foods of GE cotton from The choice to avoid GE foods is not Wellington ( Free post) Monsanto cotton engineered to just an issue of food safety but of [email protected] tolerate glyphosate herbicides, such as cultural, ethical and environmental the company's Roundup. Food Standards Australia New values. People deceived into eating Last year, FSANZ approved a 20th Zealand 04 473 9942 such products may be justified in GE food ingredient, oil and "linters" [email protected] feeling a stomach-churning sense of from cotton, COT102-Bollgard II, betrayal at this sham labelling system. Things to mention engineered with gene codes to produce This may be the first of many foods a bacterial toxin, Bt, to kill insects. that will appear unless supermarkets · Scientists and doctors warn that Foods containing oil and linters from keep faith with their customers and current testing methods for GE food the GE cotton are exempt from GE take it off the shelves. Until the safety are inadequate to protect the labelling requirements. Linters, the Minister of Consumer Affairs takes public. They warn that GE foods fine, silky fibres are used in food action for new laws requiring clear and shouldn't be on the shop shelves as casings, and ice cream. honest labelling- 'buyer beware. some people are more vulnerable to Another GE cotton, MXB-13, has

negative effects including the elderly, been reviewed which has been With plenty of exemptions under the pregnant women and those with law - including no labelling at engineered to be both herbicide suppressed immunity tolerant and insect-resistant. takeaways and cafes or on refined oils, · Even if a label is " legal" it is still if the law says label it at supermarkets, www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3183785 possible that it is likely to deceive. In a11,00.html See also Page 4 surely it should be clearer than this? this case- just take a look and ask other

GE Free New Zealand In Food & Environment Summer Newsletter February 2005 Page Page 2 Xenotransplantation and BioEthics What ethical issues does it raise? Government ignored ethical and Get involved in the debate about the Do we have the right to take body public concerns over the technology, use of animal organs and tissues for parts from animals? The ethical issues and using it on patients could prove so medical purposes. of mixing animal and humans - is there dangerous the Government could face The Bioethics Council, Toi te Taiao, is a point at which a human becomes less multi-million pound compensation about to discuss xenotransplantation human? How do you weigh the risks claims. with the public. They want to hear of creating new diseases against the Leaked to The Observer, June 2003, it what you think on these issues. hope of medical advances. warned that the NHS and companies Xenotransplantation involves using What are the animal welfare issues involved would be liable for a huge animal (eg.pigs) cells, organs and involved? lawsuit if new, potentially lethal tissues into humans. Does it cause unnecessary suffering to viruses emerged from the practice of They suggest it may help people on the animals involved? putting pig cells and organs into the long waiting lists for human organs, or human body. And if the disease - those who have diseases eg. diabetes. Have there been any successes? which some experts have warned Around 200 people have received The treatment not only raises ethical, could create a new HIV-type virus - transplanted animal tissue, including a spiritual and cultural issues, but also spreads across the world, the few New Zealanders in the late 1990's. public health issues. Restrictions on Government could be sued for Animal-human transplants are already xenotransplantation here end this year. breaching international law. being trialled or planned in the US and The Ministry of Health intends to look 8 European countries. Australia has Patients would also have to choose at safety issues before new rules are banned animal-human transplants for 5 between death and agreeing to lifelong made. A discussion document years. Canada has a similar ban. See: monitoring, and not to have children released last year recommended www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?Object or unprotected sex, in case any disease prohibiting xenotransplantation, until ID=10008863 could be passed on to another more work has been done on its safety generation.To help facilitate the and public acceptability. acceptance of xeno-transplantation, www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/wpgindex/ the Government commissioned 3 -human+tissue+consultation reports.

To be involved in this discussion go to The authors of the final, most www.bioethics.org.nz/about- controversial document got a letter bioethics/issues-in- from a senior government official focus/xenotransplantation/index.html explaining it had decided not to

For a discussion document see publish their work. It claimed the www.bioethics.org.nz/publications/xen findings did not meet the needs of the UK Xenotransplantation Interim o-discussion-jan05/index.html Dolly's Creator Granted Human or write to Toi te Taiao: Bioethics Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA), Cloning Licence. Reuters. 09/02/05 which offers expert guidance to the Council, PO Box 10362 Wellington. The scientist who created the world's Ph.(04) 916-7673 Fax: (04) 917-7523 Government, and “lacked balance in first cloned sheep, was granted a some areas”. [email protected] licence to clone human embryos for medical research. Professor Ian The report’s suppression outraged Dialogue events will take place in Wilmut, Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, animal welfare groups, which express Auckland (meeting + separate hui), plans to obtain stem cells for research deep unease about the ethics of Palmerston North, Wellington, into Motor Neurone Disease (MND) creating ‘organ farms’. But it is the (meeting combined with legal implications arising from the hui), . Dates and venues to be Pig organ transplants dangerous creation of new disease that appears advised on website. and costly Damning report on xeno- likely to prove most damaging to the transplantation buried by government Q&A - Xenotransplantation future of xeno-transplantation. Many officials Observer. 29/01/03 experts have voiced concerns that Does it involve GE? www.i-sis.org.uk/POTDC.php putting pig cells and organs into the Human bodies reject foreign tissue. To human body could create new viruses. prevent this, donor animals are The Department of Health genetically engineered to make their commissioned a report to explore the The pig genome contains many organs more like human organs to fool legal and ethical implication of porcine endogenous retroviruses that the recipient's immune system. xenotransplantation, and to help while dormant in the pig, could prove formulate a strategy for proceeding infectious for human beings. ISIS Are there risks? with the contentious technology. report 2000, Xenotransplantation – Animal organs carry retroviruses, The independent advisers from the which can transfer disease from how bad science and big business put University of Glasgow warned that the world at risk from viral pandemics animals to humans. xenotransplantation might have to be Human bodies may still reject the conclusions and warnings have been abandoned in favour of other confirmed. See www.i-sis.org.uk organs. alternatives, arguing that the

GE Free New Zealand In Food & Environment Summer Newsletter February 2005 Page Page 3 application for approval coming before chemical sprays, this is refuted by News from NZ and Australia the Environmental Risk Management extensive experience that shows Authority (ERMA). supplemental insecticides such as Stopping GE trees in Rotorua organophosphates have been used to However the Greens and the rest of the 30/01/05 PMEA press release control Bt resistant Helicoverpa GE-Free movement remain vigilant www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO05 caterpillar larvae. and will oppose any such application 01/S00217.htm GM cotton fails to improve yields and should it occur. Four people were arrested while decreases profits. Yields remain attempting to decontaminate the field Meanwhile, Ian Ewen-Street's constant at 7- 8 tonnes /ha, average trial of GM trees, all in the Forest members' bill, calling for the operating profits fell from around Research Inst, Rotorua. People from reinstatement of the GE Moratorium, $155 in 1995 to $60 in 2001 . The around NZ gathered at the site of will give Parliament an opportunity to price for cotton plummeted by almost FRI’s GE pine tree trials in Rotorua acknowledge the massive international 40% during the same period. A further demanding an end to the trial. consumer resistance to GE and to $155/ha “technology fee” has to be “The public has a right to know where consider the mounting evidence paid to Monsanto. these trees are and how close they are against the technology. to their homes and families,” said Ana Monsanto has aggressively pushed Navidad, spokesperson for GE Free Coalition could lift ban on GM GM cotton worldwide and it is sown Rotorua. The experiment includes the crops The West Australian, Cathy Bolt on 7.5 million hectares of Bt resistant use of antibiotic resistant marker genes 28/01/05 and Bt/ herbicide tolerant cotton and viral promoters which is a risk to www.thewest.com.au/20050128/news/ across the world, but GM crops are the health of all new Zealanders,” said general/tw-news-general-home- still only 1.3% of global agriculture Felicity Perry, spokesperson, Peoples sto130338.html area. West Australian Liberal and National Moratorium Enforcement Agency. Fusarium is now spreading quickly parties hint they may lift the state's through Australia's non-fusarium "As noted by the Royal Commission moratorium on GE crops if elected. on Genetic Modification in their 2001 resistant GM cotton areas, according report: 'the use of sterility technology to the New South Wales Agriculture in commercial forestry trees should Department. Roundup disturbs the soil be investigated, as it has the potential food web so fusarium proliferates while beneficial microbes are lost. to reduce pollen production with its associated allergenicity problems GM cotton in household products and prevent wild pine escape. Cottonseeds are crushed and the However, a full assessment, based on resulting oil ends up as unlabelled field trials, of the effects of genetically “vegetable oil”. In particular, it is modified sterility on the ecology of the often used in deep fat fryers for fish forest would be required.' and chips and other fast foods

"There are no plants produced using restaurants, explains Dr Judy Carmen, seed sterilisation technologies in director of the Institute of Health and Environmental Research. The linters commercial use anywhere and speculation about their possible impact Australia Adopts GM Cotton but is (short filled fibres attached to the is premature.” it Wise? The moratorium on GM cottonseeds) from GM cotton find canola holds but Bt cotton slips their way into household products as The Greens, GE and this year's through. www.i-sis.org.uk .Isis PR diverse as ice cream, sausage skins election Jeanette Fitzsimons, Green 03/02/05 Sam Burcher and toothpaste . Lint is also used in Party co-leader medical supplies such as bandages and wound dressings as well as in tampons The GE-Free movement in New Monsanto's single and double gene cotton Bt ( bacillus thuringiensis ), is and clothing. Zealand has been successful in ensuring GE remains in the laboratory genetically modified to produce Oil and linters made from GM cotton (or at worst in field tests) for the proteins to kill off pests and has been are not labelled in food in Australia as immediate future. The last six years of grown in Australia since 1996. they are deemed to contain no DNA or campaigning has created a regulatory Applications have been granted to protein, a presumption not based on environment and an awareness that, at expand GM cotton production to parts empirical data. present, is deterring applications for of the country where it was previously the release of GE into the prohibited because of concerns of Make a submission to stop environment. cross-contamination with native cotton Application A553 Monsanto GE species. Monsanto claims that the cotton in food by 23rd March send Since the GE Moratorium was lifted in current 30% cap on GM cotton could to: October 2003, there have been no be lifted to as much as 80% of total [email protected] applications for the commercial release acreage in 2004/5. www.foodstandards.gov.au/standar of genetically engineered organisms. Industry claims that the northern dsdevelopment There is no immediate prospect of an Australian cotton may not need any GE Free New Zealand In Food & Environment Summer Newsletter February 2005 Page Page 4 World news Seeds of Indonesia bribery scandal crops. Charles Benbrook, formerly The Department of Justice and executive director of US Nat. European GE food Securities & Exchange Commission Academy of Science concluded that Greenpeace International says the (SEC) charged Monsanto with bribing biotech industry claims of reduced consumer boycott of GE food in Indonesian government official to pesticide use are unfounded. Europe has been highly successful, waive a strict environmental www.GEinfo.org.nz/022005/07.html crediting tough European labelling requirement needed to plant laws, which came into effect in April controversial GE cotton seeds there. 2004, for helping to keep GE food out. US authorities found Monsanto had Inspiration - Trees as solutions Their EU Markets report search of paid US$ 700,000 in bribes to 140 30 years ago, in Kenya, 90% of the supermarket shelves in Europe has officials and family members from forest had been chopped down. With found very few GE labelled products, 1997-2002.In 2000 an agreement to no trees the land became like a in a handful of countries, often soy or plant 20,000 Ha of GE cotton was desert. To prepare meals, women corn oil. Oils are exempt from postponed, 5 months later approval for spent hours looking for firewood. A labelling in New Zealand. an experimental project in Sulawesi woman, Wangari watched this, she www.greenpeace.org/international_en/ was given. Only days later 40 tons of planted a tree, then taught other multimedia/download/1/724658/0/mkt GE seed from S.Africa was driven women to plant trees. They were new.pdf under armed guard in trucks marked paid a small amount for each sapling ‘rice delivery’. they grew. She organised women all Monsanto buys big into seeds www.Geinfo.org.nz/022005/02.html over Kenya in the Green Belt Monsanto has bought leading seed Movement, more and more trees company Seminis, "the largest Investors challenge Monsanto over covered the land. developer, grower and marketer of GE risks.20/01/05 Kenya’s president didn't like this, so fruit and vegetable seeds in the world". A coalition of 300 religious police intimidated and beat Wangari. In the long-term, they will be looking institutional and socially responsible Over 30 years she was accused of for GE opportunities. investors and firms filed a resolution "subversion" and arrested many The $1.4 billion deal gives Monsanto asking Monsanto to report on impacts times, even hospitalised with head weight in Europe and Asia, where related to GE products. injuries, but she realised she was on Seminis does a lot of its business. www.GEinfo.org.nz/022005/03.html the right path. 30 million trees have The company supplies more than been planted in Africa, one tree at a 3,500 seed varieties to commercial Monsanto Assault on U.S. Farmers reveals thousands of Monsanto time. The landscapes--both the fruit and vegetable growers in 150 investigations, nearly 100 lawsuits and external one of the land and the countries, including New Zealand. numerous bankruptcies The Center for internal one of the people--have been Guardian: "Monsanto has GM crop Food Safety have released a report transformed. Wangari, now 65, is plans for seed firm" detailing Monsanto's lawsuits against Kenya's Assistant Minister for the www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,, American farmers. 13/01/05 Environment. The former president 1397765,00.html www.centerforfoodsafety.org/Monsant is now gone. Monsanto pays $1billion for fruit & ovsusfarmersreport.cfm Wangari Maathai is the first African veg seed company - no plans for GM woman to be awarded the Nobel www.nongmfarmers.com/news_details Peace Prize recently. After in a .asp?ID=1970 26/01/05 speech entitled, "What Do Trees Monsanto now owns 91% of seeds Have To Do With Peace?" she said worldwide. wars are fought over limited natural Outcry over creation of smallpox resources, oil, land, coal or virus Independent 22/01/05 diamonds. She called for an end to Senior scientific advisers to the World corporate greed, and for leaders to Health Organisation recommended the build more just societies. creation of a GE version of smallpox "When we plant trees, we plant the virus to counter any threats of bio- seeds of peace and seeds of hope. terrorist attacks. Permitting researchers We also secure the future for our to engineer genes of one of the most children. I call on those around the dangerous infections known would world to celebrate by planting a tree make it easier to develop new drugs wherever you are." Inviting us all to against smallpox, they said. get involved she said "Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a The scientist who led the global campaign to eradicate smallpox ------shift in our thinking, so that opposed the move citing risk to public GE weedkiller use increases 28/10/04 humanity stops threatening its life- health and the accidental production of Farmers weekly, UK. A new study support system. We are called to a more lethal virus. based on official USDA data on assist the Earth to heal her wounds www.Geinfo.org.nz/022005/01.html pesticide use reveals a sharp increase and in the process heal our own." in pesticide use after 3 years of GE GE Free New Zealand In Food & Environment Summer Newsletter February 2005 Page Page 5 Minister to abolish GE scrutiny Monitoring the environmental conclusions deemed harmful to their board. 29/12/04 Guardian, UK effects of GM crops 27/01/05 Rome business. Environment secretary Margaret www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005 Group Claims Biotechs Don't Beckett will scrap UK GE watchdog /89259/index.html A consultation of Deliver on Promises 03/02/05 after it repeatedly placed obstacles in experts convened at the UN Food and www.enn.com/today.html?id=7058 the way of government plans to Agriculture Organization (FAO), The biotechnology industry has failed introduce GE crops.The Agriculture recommended that any responsible to deliver on promises to revolutionize and Environment Biotechnology deployment of GM crops needs to agriculture with plants genetically Commission was created to discuss comprise the whole technology engineered to be healthier, drought social, ethical and economic issues at development process, from the pre- resistant and tastier. The Center for the height of opposition to GE crops. release risk assessment, to Science in the Public Interest said 3 reports were produced, one biosafety considerations and post drought resistance and other new traits demanding wide buffer zones and a release monitoring. desired by consumers or needed by compensation scheme. Third World farmers have yet to be Glyphosate-resistant common www.GEinfo.org.nz/022005/08.html produced. They reached the ragweed confirmed in Arkansas conclusion after analyzing publicly Bid to Stop US "Rubber-Stamping" 28/01/05 Delta Farm Press, USA available data provided by the U.S. deltafarmpress.com/news/050128- Transgene Contamination Mae- Department of Agriculture and the ragweed-confirmed-Arkansas/ Wan Ho. www.i-sis.org.uk Food and Drug Administration. The ISP have submitted strong DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred objections to US’s proposed change in International plans to introduce policy that would allow companies to several other GE products, including contaminate the food supply with corn resistant to drought between 2007 unauthorized test crops. The US Food and 2010. "Despite glowing and Drug Administration (FDA) pronouncements from the agricultural published a proposal on 24.11.04 that biotechnology industry, the regulatory would allow experimental GM crops data suggests that the industry is grown on "test" sites to legally enter stagnating, not thriving," Greg Jaffe the food chain. Starlink GM corn, said continued to be detected in the US grain supply and in food shipments to Ottawa asked to approve GE Bolivia, Japan and South Korea as Italian Parliament Approves GM salmon. CBC. 08/12/04 recently as Autumn 2003. Farming Law Reuters 27/01/05 Aqua Bounty technologies is seeking Legislation has been approved in Italy approval to supply Canadian diners GM policy shift in Europe 26/01/05 allows farmers to plant GE crops, if with GE salmon, that grow twice as The Scientist, Ned Stafford they choose to do so but biotechnology fast as normal fish., after 4 years www.biomedcentral.com/news/200501 supporters complained the bill would trying to get US FDA approval. 26/02 New EU Agriculture essentially uphold the moratorium. A member of the Royal Society of Commissioner signals intent to move The so-called "co-existence" law sets Canada expert panel on biotech stated, to EU wide regulation of planting of out rules to ensure conventional “If those fish were to escape and GE crops rather than current situation and organic crops are not reproductively or ecologically interact of leaving it up to each member state. contaminated by GM seeds...it will be with wild populations, there could be This arises from dissatisfaction with up to each of Italy's 20 regions to set some severe detrimental effects to Germany's new coexistence/liability the detailed rules and most of them those wild populations”. law which is so discouraging to would- have said they want to remain GM- www.GEinfo.org.nz/022005/06.html be GE growers. free, effectively maintaining an Group urges ban on crops for GE corn, soybeans found growing unofficial EU-wide ban on GM foods drugs. Sacramento Bee. 16/12/04 wild Japan Times 14/12/04 formally lifted earlier this year. The Union for Concerned Scientists GE corn and soybeans have been U.S. Scientists Say They Are Told to have called on the USDA to ban open found growing wild near Shimizu port, Alter Findings 10/01/05 LA Times plantings of corn, soy and other food citizens groups have said. The GE Free Over 200 fish & wildlife researchers crops engineered to produce group said GE rapeseed/canola had have cited cases where conclusions pharmaceutical and industrial also been found growing wild near were reversed to weaken protections products. A panel from top Fukuoka’s Hakata port. This discovery and favor business. Over half the agricultural schools concluded the US of GE rapeseed follows detection at 6 biologists and researchers responding food supply isn’t fully protected from other ports.”Corn and soybeans are to a Union of Concerned Scientists drug compounds grown in food crops. less likely to disperse than rapeseed; survey said they knew cases in which The editor of the report, an it’s amazing that they grow wild,” said commercial interests, including timber, entomology professor stated, “ seed Masaharu Kawata, a lecturer in grazing, development and energy mix-ups and pollen movement are the chemical biology at Yokkaichi Univ. companies, had applied political main contamination concerns. www.GEinfo.org.nz/022005/04.html pressure to reverse scientific www.GEinfo.org.nz/022005/05.html

GE Free New Zealand In Food & Environment Summer Newsletter February 2005 Page Page 6 GE Free NZ News producers, key markets, brand, tangata Plan (despite over 170+ submissions whenua, unique biodiversity etc) against GMO land use, the FNDC GE Free Rotorua take action failed to act). The FNDC has "More than 50 people from all over the *Whangarei, Kaipara, Far North and subsequently contributed funding to country gathered at Apumoana Marae Rodney District and Waitakere City the independent GE report and legal for workshops, creativity, and action Councils will support and jointly fund opinion by Dr. Royden Somerville, against the GE tree field trials on a Risks and Options Report on GE in QC and Simon Terry Associates; and Auckland Anniversary weekend. GE the Northland peninsula. A Risk joined the Working Party on GMOs. Free activists painted banners, shared Evaluation & Options Report (by Dr. ****************************** meals, learnt about the implications of Royden Somerville, QC, & Simon Northland Regional Council 18/10/04 the trial, discussed how to lobby local Terry Associates and Mitchell At a CEO's of Regional Authorities government bodies for GE Free Partnerships) will be available later meeting, Local Government NZ legislation and participated in a this month. gave a presentation, supporting the meeting on Maori and GE. The march urgent need for an independent legal on Sunday was clear and strong as we "Northland Conservation Board met opinion to be commissioned on the walked along Te Ngae Road and with ERMA. 21/01/05 to discuss role of regional authorities re: GMO received loud and frequent support issues including: land use. from passing motorists. A) the lifting of the moratorium on Only Northland Regional Council & The protest at the trial site itself was release of GMOs despite key research Environment Bay of Plenty Regional marred by the aggressive behaviour of recommended by the RCI on GM in Council voted to contribute funds. security guards - no decontamination 2001 into gaps of knowledge and risky www.envbop.govt.nz/publications/me was attempted, but unfortunately 4 areas like HGT, and our biosecurity dia/030219ac.doc people were arrested and physical agencies already being overstretched injuries sustained by 2 of the arrestees. Pressure needs to be put on YOUR B) Errors made by MAF (regarding local Regional Council- write and Media coverage focused on the arrests protocols for seed importation into ask them how your CEO voted on not the GE pine tree trials, which NZ) resulting in GM contaminated this important issue. Even a few utilise antibiotic resistant marker genes maize being planted in NZ last Regional Councils and Local and viral promoters and have serious summer (including one Far North Government NZ could fund this implications for biodiversity and District site) and subsequent lack of important work. sustainability. Despite the arrests, notification of local authorities ******************************* there was a strong sense of solidarity regarding this illegal GMO biosecurity Table a copy of new Sustainability and renewed energy with further calls breach. The NCB expect immediate Council of NZ document with your for the trials to end supported by a mandatory written notification of any District, Regional, Unitary Council revitalised campaign. Contact:- illegal GMO biosecurity breach in the Mayor, Councillors & Chairman. Amanda Reid [email protected] future ( and as an Interested Party require advice of applications for GE GM CROPS - Where Local field trials or releases). Government Picks Up Communities and their elected C) NZ Landcare Research GE representatives face a new resource contraceptive possum baits management issue: the outdoor experimentation. production of genetically modified D) Risks of GMO land use (or (GM) food varieties. 4 pages aquaculture) to indigenous biodiversity www.sustainabilitynz.org/docs/Counci (the Conservation Estate) lOptionsforGMmanagement.pdf

Northern branch Forest & Bird and GE also Frequently Asked Questions FREE NORTHLAND members About GM, GM Foods & Managing attended to back up the NCB. Thank GM in the Community you NCB for your commitment. www.sustainabilitynz.org/docs/GM_F AQ.pdf GE FREE NORTHLAND Pressure needs to be kept on MAF to in Food & Environment has continued ensure that appropriate follow up on Northland Councils Investigate to work constructively with local all sites where the GM contaminated Local Management of GMOs The government, to ensure that GMO land maize was accidentally planted Exec Sum & full rpt: use is kept out of our region. The (including not allowing any farmer to www.sustainabilitynz.org territorial authorities in particular* plant maize on these sites due to the have shown great leadership and risk of GM contaminated volunteers). Start fighting against GE in your innovation, in commissioning the Risk local area table a copy of the Evaluation & Options Report (on ****************************** GE FREE NORTHLAND has an report with your council and ask GMOs) which will address the risks of them for a response to its findings. GMO land use to our unique outstanding appeal on the Far North geographical region (and our primary District Council's proposed District GE Free New Zealand In Food & Environment Summer Newsletter February 2005 Page Page 7 Genome Scrambling - Myth or When you have finished with GE Free NZ Contacts Reality? Transformation-Induced your newsletter, pass it on ... We’re on the web, visit: Mutations in Transgenic Crop www.gefree.org.nz Plants EcoNexus, UK Oct 2004 GE Status of Ice Cream products Head office: PO Box 693, Nelson www.genet-info.org/ Summary: Based on peer-reviewed Green-GE Free policy Ph 03 547 9383 Fax 03 547 9329 papers from scientific literature and [email protected] or data from 7 representative applications Golden Circle Icy Fruit Sticks [email protected] (Golden Circle) for commercial release submitted AUCKLAND GE-Free Coalition incl. Guilt Free Ice Cream (Talley's to the US Department of Agriculture GE-Free NZ, Greens, Greenpeace Frozen Foods LTD) (USDA) it documents the known & FoE [email protected] Hansell's Dessert Topping (Hansells effects of both transgene insertion and Dianna or Jon 09 378 8945 New Zealand Ltd) tissue culture on commercial crop [email protected] JJ's Ice Cream Wafers (JJ Wafer varieties. Some conclusions are: Biscuits Ltd.) GE Aware Nelson GEAN 1. Little is known about the impact of Kapiti Icecream (Kapiti Cheeses Ltd) Don Murray 03 539 1395 transgene insertion. [email protected] Streets Ice Creams and Paddle Pops 2. These few studies suggest that (Unilever) GE Free Canterbury transgene insertion is never precise Talley's Ice Creams and Frozen [email protected] and is often associated with significant Seafoods (Talley's Frozen Foods Ltd GE Free Northland rearrangement and/or loss of plant LTD) Zelka 09432 2155 genomic DNA. [email protected] 3. Transgene insertion is typically Orange zone (on the way to GE-Free): www.gefreenorthland.org.nz Basics and Signature products associated with insertion of DNA GE Free Wellington sequences other than those intended (house brands of Progressive Enterprises, which operates Foodtown, Jon Muller 04 589 0536 including bacterial plasmid sequences, [email protected] superfluous transgene DNA & DNA of Woolworths and Countdown unknown origin and may accidentally [email protected] GE Free Kapiti include bacterial genomic DNA. Tel: 0800 40 40 40 Paul White 04 905 7500 before 9pm

[email protected] 4. No-one has ever successfully Budget and PAMs products demonstrated the full damage caused (house brands of Foodstuffs NZ Ltd, GE Free Taupo by insertion of an entire transgene which operates Pak N Save, New Dawn Eskelsen using a particle bombardment method. World, Write Price & Four Square) 07 377 4563 GE Free Wairarapa 5. Despite this lack of information, www.foodstuffs.co.nz/info Claire Bleakely 06 308 9842 USDA approval of GMOs is based on [email protected] [email protected] the presumption that insertion of the 0800 245 114 GE Free Palmerston North transgene is precise. Crofters Cheesecakes Christine McArhur 6. The report outlines the possible Gaytime Ice Cream Cones [email protected] consequences of these mutations for Haagen-Dazs (General Mills) crop biosafety. Heavenly Treats and Lite Licks Dunedin GE Free Coalition (Chateau Crème Delight Ice Cream Ruth Lawson 03 476 134 The report’s authors can be contacted Co.) [email protected] at: [email protected] Kilinchy Gold Ice Cream (Chateau Crème Delight Ice Cream Co.) SPECIFIC ISSUE CONTACTS: REGISTER YOUR HOME AS A Kiwi Ice Cream (Kiwi Ice-Cream Press contacts: GE FREE ZONE Pass the info on to Co.) Spokesperson all your friends and any folk in rural Masterfoods Dessert Toppings Jon Carapiet 09 815 3370 areas you know support the initiative. (Masterfoods / Effem) [email protected] Properties registered - 5,351 covering Moritz Ice Cream (Tip Top Ice Transgenic animal/health issues a total 348,005.12 acres. Cream Co.) Claire Bleakley 06 308 9842 www.gefreeregister.org.nz Movenpick Icecream (Chateau [email protected] Crème Delight Ice Cream Co.) Local government GE Free issues Tip Top Ice Creams and Fruit Zelka Grammer 09 432 2155 T Shirts natural unbleached cotton Lollies (Tip Top Ice Cream Co.) [email protected] with rainbow GE Free NZ logo Red zone (may contain GE-derived $20.00 incl.P&P from Head office. Disclaimer-We are not liable for ingredients) Cotton shopping bags with same any error, omission, fact or rainbow design $ 5. Bumper Betta Ice Cream Cones misinterpretation in this stickers + GE Free corflute signs publication, nor any action taken also available see website. Cadbury Ice Creams Sara Lee Products on the information given.

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