Wellington, New Zealand
July 9, 2003

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry today announced that its investigations into a GMO-contaminated sweet corn crop grown at Gisborne earlier this year had produced a significant amount of information that would require analysis over the next week.

Results obtained from the sweet corn crop so far show the presence of a genetically-modified organism (GMO) called Bt11, which is present at less than 0.05 percent. This is less than five seeds in a sample of 10,000 seeds and is well below the Australia/New Zealand standard of 1 percent for the unintentional presence of GM material in approved non-viable foods. Bt11 is one of the corn varieties approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand for consumption in New Zealand.

A suite of tests designed to discover other forms of GM contamination has also produced negative results.

MAF investigators have completed their audit of the Gisborne company involved. Information obtained from the audit is now being considered to determine what, if any, further investigations of company records, processes and systems are required. The company involved has been very co-operative and supportive of MAF’s audit requirements, and the audit team has complimented company officials on the completeness of their records.

Field investigations are continuing. Of particularly interest to MAF is finding whether there are any discernible differences between the sweet corn crops produced from each of the four fields in question. Additional samples of seed, and product harvested from each of these fields has been identified and sent to Melbourne for testing. Field investigations are also finalising details of other crops that were grown in proximity to the four fields, particularly during the crops’ flowering period. This information will help determine whether cross-pollination or the original seed consignment may have been a cause of the GM contamination.

MAF is investigating several possible pathways for contamination. These are the original seeds from the United States; the possibility of cross-pollination from other crops grown adjacent to the sweet corn fields at Gisborne; contamination during the harvesting and processing stages; and possible contamination during laboratory testing. Hopefully the investigations will eliminate some of these pathways but it is possible, given the extremely low level of GM contamination, that the exact cause is never discovered.

Q&A

1.       How much sweet corn was grown?

A:      About 22ha, in four fields.

2.       Where is the sweet corn that was harvested?

A:      Apart from about 10 tonnes sent to Japan as a trial shipment, the balance is in a warehouse in Gisborne. This has been confirmed by the MAF audit team.

3.       Are there any discernible differences between the four fields in terms of test results received so far?

A:      This is currently an area of focus for MAF investigators. Seed and product samples from each of the four fields are currently being tested to see if there are any discernible differences.

4.       Were there any sweet corn or maize crops grown in fields adjacent to the four fields in question?

A:      Yes. MAF investigators are currently determining the extent of these plantings and seeking information from land holders and processing companies regarding the varieties grown, planting dates, flowering dates and whether samples of seed planted and product harvested are available. The exact number of fields involved is not known at this time. If these crops can be shown not to have been flowering at the same time as the crops in question, then they can be immediately eliminated for further investigation for cross-pollination risk.

5.       What did the audit of the company reveal?

A:      The audit revealed a highly professional and co-operative company with robust and detailed records, processes and systems. It also produced a considerable amount of information that is now being considered by MAF investigators in conjunction with their investigations into products, seeds and the fields in question.

6.       Is MAF planning to test more seeds and products?

A:      Testing has been arranged to determine whether there are any discernible differences between seeds planted in and product harvested from each of the four fields in question. Some testing may be required from adjoining sweet corn or maize crops, if records indicate these may have been flowering at the same time as the crops in question. This part of the investigation will be very time consuming.

7.       What tests has MAF concluded on sweet corn samples so far?

A:      On 5 July 2003 AgriQuality GMO Services, Melbourne, reported after qualitative tests on positive samples on 3 July, that less than 0.05 percent of the processed corn was genetically modified. The gene-specific tests for the construct showed that the genetic modification involved Bt11. Bt11 is an insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant construct which is the only commercially available GM sweet corn. The sample tested negative for the Maximiser (BT176), BtXtra (DBT418), Roundup Ready (GA21), LibertyLink (T25), YieldGard (MON810), Roundup Ready (NK603), StarLink, B16, MaxGard, SeedLink (MS3), YieldGard (MON801, 802 and 805), Roundup Ready (MON 832, 831 and 809), and SeedLink (MS6) varieties of GM corn. The sample also tested negative for the Roundup Ready GM soy variety which is the most widely grown variety of GM soy.

8.       When does MAF expect to conclude its investigations?

A:      By the end of next week (18 July 2003) MAF expects to have obtained sufficient information to conclude its investigations. It is possible, given the extremely low level of GM contamination involved, that the exact cause or pathway may never be determined.

July 6, 2003

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and New Zealand Food Safety Authority officials today provided an update on their investigations into a case of possible GM contamination of sweet corn harvested in the Gisborne region earlier this year. Officials from ERMA New Zealand have also been closely involved with these investigations. 

AgriQuality GMO Services laboratory in Melbourne has worked through the weekend to determine the genetically modified organism and the concentration at which it was present in the corn harvested.

"The laboratory results indicate the presence of Bt11, an insect-resistant variety of sweet corn and the only commercially-available GM sweet corn variety. Eleven of the most common types of GM constructs found in varieties of corn were tested for. All of these tests showed negative results," MAF Biosecurity group director Barry O’Neil said.

"Concentration of this GM organism is very low – less than 0.05 percent. This is less than five seeds in a sample of 10,000 seeds."

"Bt11 is one of the GM corn varieties that has been approved for consumption in New Zealand by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and the level of GM concentration is well below the Australia/New Zealand standard for unintentional presence of 1 percent," Food Safety Authority director plant and dairy products Tim Knox said.

"Information received from the company involved suggests that the corn exported to Japan was a trial shipment and no product has been released for consumption in Japan or in New Zealand.

"Given this information and the outcomes of the tests, it appears that no further action will be required by the NZFSA," Tim Knox said.

"MAF is investigating several possible pathways for contamination. These are the original seeds imported from the United States; the possibility of cross-contamination from other crops grown adjacent to the sweet corn fields at Gisborne; contamination during the harvesting and processing stages; and possible contamination during laboratory testing," Barry O’Neil said.

"Because the level of contamination is so low, the import pathway cannot be ruled out as a source. Tests of the imported seed line – both by the importing company and by MAF – could have missed this contamination.

"The audit of the harvesting and processing systems will provide more information on the possibility of contamination and on the exact status of all material harvested.

"This audit will start on Monday once the specialists arrive. The weekend’s severe weather, resulting in road closures and the cancellation of some flights to Gisborne disrupted their travel plans," Barry O’Neil said.