Experts hunt for source of suspected GM maize

Scientists will examine various lines of maize seeds to find out how a big consignment of the crop grown in New Zealand tested positive for GM contamination.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has impounded 13,500 tonnes of maize, grown by several farmers using different seed lines.

It was ready to be made into food for human consumption.

Ministry officials would only say the maize was sitting in silos at an unknown location in the "upper North Island" and was tested by a food manufacturer before further processing.

It is not known what food the maize was going to be used for or who ordered the testing.

Maize is made into starch for foodstuffs and into foods such as cornflakes and corn chips.

Up to 150,000 tonnes is produced each year and its biggest use in New Zealand is normally as stock feed.

All corn and maize is tested for GM at certified laboratories overseas before it can be imported.

"We have to find out where [the maize consignment] came from and the size of the problem," said MAF eradications programme manager Ian Gear, adding that several farmers and seed lines were involved.

A researcher would look at the initial quality assurance test to see whether the specific altered genetic sequence gave any clues to a commercially cultivated variety.

But the bulk of the work at the moment was in identifying the properties on which the maize was grown, and what other varieties were grown on the same properties.

Foundation for Arable Research chief executive Nick Pyke said it was uncertain whether growers would lose money.

Some would have contracts absolving them from any responsibility for GM contamination, meaning any financial hit would fall on the buyer of the consignment.

Farmers would be concerned at the latest contamination scare: "If it's New Zealand-grown maize it's definitely a concern."

Prime Minister Helen Clark was last night playing down concerns, saying the detection of possible contamination showed proper systems were in place.

On the eve of the 2002 election Labour was rattled by a GM scare and claims of a cover-up.

Last night Helen Clark said: "We have systems if anything occurs. Obviously it's got to go for proper testing. It's very transparent and that's the way it should be."

There was a much controversy during the 2002 general election campaign, when activist and author Nicky Hager released a book alleging the cover-up of GM contamination in sweetcorn grown here in 2000.

Helen Clark said she was not experiencing a feeling of deja vu.

A definitive answer on the present scare will not be known for at least two weeks as further tests are done overseas.

GM rules

Tests before or at the border are supposed to pick up GM seed in maize sent from overseas.

No GM maize has been approved for commercial crops in New Zealand.

Food containing GM ingredients at a level of 1 per cent or greater must be labelled.