MAF to test every import of sweetcorn and maize seeds

3.00pm

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry today announced a new testing regime to check imported seeds of both sweetcorn and maize for contamination with genetically engineered (GE) DNA.

In the wake of a political row last month, MAF said every shipment will be tested, instead of one in three, which was its original proposal a couple of months ago.

The new regime that takes effect today covers the area that became pivotal in the election campaign, when author Nicky Hager alleged GE-contaminated sweetcorn seeds had been imported in an incident later covered up by the Government.

The new regime makes New Zealand one of the first countries to adopt a regulation for systematically screening imported seeds for the presence of GE material.

New Zealand had to deal with its own scare over GE seed contamination in November and December 2000, when initial testing showed minute traces of GE content in imported sweetcorn seed.

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs later announced "a more detailed evaluation" concluded that, if present at all, the GE material was at levels below that which could be reliably detected.

But four weeks ago, during the election campaign, Mr Hager disclosed that over the summer of 2000-2001, Government officials actively worked towards tolerating 0.5 per cent GE contamination in imported sweetcorn seed, and only abandoned the concept when the original tests with some positive results were re-interpreted.

Some countries, such as the United States, have few requirements to distinguish between GE and conventional crops and the number of GE crops commercially available is growing.

New Zealand's cropping farmers, each year import 186 tonnes of sweetcorn seed, of which 161 tonnes comes from the United States.

Since August 1 last year, the Government has required all consignments of imported sweetcorn seed to be tested for the presence of GE seeds.

About 56,338kg of seed has been imported during the past year in 25 consignments, about two-thirds from the United States. Most shipments (17 containing 54,492kg) were tested offshore, and eight (1846kg) at the border. One of these, 2.7kg from the US tested positive in January and were incinerated. Two other shipments totalling 4kg were destroyed when the importers were not prepared to pay the cost of GE testing.

Today's announcement extends the testing to maize seeds, and from October 1 canola seed imports will be tested, with plans to test soybean seeds from January 1.

Under the revised import health standard for Zea mays seed -- sweetcorn, maize and popcorn -- for sowing all consignments must be tested for the presence of unapproved GE seeds, either offshore or at the border.

But MAF today announced a potentially significant new loophole -- if it is satisfied that the source country has sufficient systems in place "to provide a level of assurance equivalent to testing every consignment" the tests will not be required.

MAF's director of plants biosecurity, Richard Ivess said seeds imported from countries without commercial production of GE varieties were "extremely unlikely" to contain GE seeds.

"These countries' regulatory systems may provide equal or better assurance that their seeds are not contaminated than the assurances provided by testing," he suggested.

MAF would develop a standard setting out criteria for deciding whether countries were "free" from commercial production of GE varieties, and had sufficient controls at their borders and over any trials of GE crops, to provide a level of assurance equivalent to testing every consignment.

Until then, MAF would consider applications from countries in consultation with other New Zealand agencies and publish its decisions. Once approved, routine testing of seeds will not be required, though MAF might conduct random testing of imports.

- NZPA

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