GE organisms for sale: MP

WELLINGTON - Illicit genetically engineered organisms are being sold in New Zealand, says Jeanette Fitzsimons.

She was chairing the parliamentary select committee on local government and environment yesterday when she reported having been shown a fish food sample sent through the mail.

The food was termed a "bio-engineered nutrient organism."

She had also been given details of a Bay of Plenty nursery selling very dark-coloured roses that it claimed had been engineered with a gene from a "black" tulip.

Dr Bas Walker, head of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma), told Ms Fitzsimons yesterday that the items should be referred to Erma for investigation.

- NZPA

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