The Environment Risk Management Authority (ERMA) of New Zealand has received the first application in three years to field test a GM crop.

Crop & Food Research Ltd. has applied to field test three vegetable (broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower), and a forage Brassica (forage kale) in the Lincoln region for a period of 10 years.

The application is to modify the brassicas for insect resistance with genes derived from Bacillus thuringensis.

It is proposed the field test will be on a small scale of around 0.4 hectares. The plants would not be permitted to flower in the field, and would be taken back to the glasshouse to prevent the spread of pollen.

ERMA New Zealand Chief Executive Rob Forlong, said application details and FAQs will be available on the ERMA New Zealand website www.ermanz.govt.nz from tomorrow.

Advertisements notifying the application will also be advertised in the public notices sections of the major New Zealand newspapers tomorrow.

Mr Forlong said public submissions on the application would close 12 December 2006, with a hearing on the application likely to be held sometime in late February 2007.