Extend GM ban says Whangarei council

The Whangarei District Council wants Prime Minister Helen Clark to extend a moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms.

At a council meeting this week Mayor Craig Brown said the council had decided to take a cautious approach to the genetic modification issue. He had written to Helen Clark citing "considerable concern in our community" over the release of GM organisms into the environment.

The moratorium is due to be lifted on October 29. The council is concerned about: the economic benefits versus risks to conventional and organic food producers; who bears liability relating to these risks; and local government's role under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, the Resource Management Act and the Local Government Act.

Mr Brown also said in the letter the council had supported Local Government New Zealand's submission to the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill 2003, seeking legal clarification.

"Disappointingly, we feel such clarification was not achieved," he wrote. "Our council respectfully considers that the present moratorium on the release of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) should be extended for a further period to allow these uncertainties to be addressed."

Mr Brown said the council was also looking to host an information-gathering forum on the issue with Sustainability Council chairman Sir Peter Elworthy.

- NZPA