April 11, 2008
The
Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
has received an application from the
New Zealand
Institute for Crop and Food Research to field
test genetically-modified onions, spring onions,
garlic and leeks.
Crop and Food Research has an approval to field test
up to 2700 GM onion plants modified for herbicide
resistance. It wants to set up a more extensive test
crop involving more vegetable species. It wants to
run a field test over a 10-year period, planting all
four species over a total of 2.5 hectares.
Crop and Food Research wants to plant onion seed
directly in the ground and allow some onion plants
to flower in the field in order to produce seed. The
flowering onions would be caged in order to prevent
insects carrying pollen to non-GM onions outside the
site.
Public submissions are invited on the application
and must be received by Monday, 26 May 2008. These
can be made in writing or online through ERMA New
Zealand’s website. It is likely that a public
hearing will be held on the application in July.
The application details and answers to
frequently-asked questions are available on the ERMA
New Zealand website,
www.ermanz.govt.nz or below.
Questions and answers regarding the application
Other news from Crop and Food Research