Wellington, New Zealand
February 10, 2009
MAF Biosecurity New
Zealand (MAFBNZ) has completed their review of the Plant &
Food Research internal report into a reported breach of
containment facility requirements at Plant & Food Research - the
Lincoln-based crown research institute containment facility
where genetically modified (GM) brassica plants had been growing
as part of an approved field trial.
MAFBNZ Group Manager, Operational Standards and Facilities Clive
Gower-Collins said the Plant & Food Research has agreed on a
range of interim actions to be taken immediately under the
Biosecurity Act 1993. These include:
1. An increase in the audit
regime to ensure compliance is achieved;
2. The current Operator approval is cancelled;
3. The new Operator to secure the necessary resources
required to effectively manage the field trial;
4. Ensure the new Operator has the necessary skills and
knowledge of containment principles to manage the trial; and
5. The containment manual to be updated to provide for more
effective internal monitoring, including staff training to
ensure all field trial staff understand the approved HSNO
Act controls.
Mr Gower-Collins says MAFBNZ is
also looking at what further steps may be appropriate regarding
this non-compliance.
He says MAFBNZ has conducted its own separate investigations,
regarding the possibility of cross-pollination with surrounding
crops, and these have determined any cross-pollination as highly
unlikely.
"We will continue work on finalising a set of options for
management of the containment facility into the future", Mr
Gower-Collins says. |
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