New Zealand
November 27, 2008
An application from Crop and
Food Research to field test genetically modified vegetables of
the allium family has been approved by ERMA New Zealand. The
application was to test over 10 years GM onions, spring onions,
garlic and leeks to study their agronomic performance in field
conditions and to assess their environmental impact. A feature
of the trial is that some of the onions are allowed to flower
and produce seed. Strict conditions to ensure pollen does not
spread to non-GM onions include a requirement for insect-proof
cages covering all flowering onions. The application was lodged
with ERMA New Zealand on 11 April 2008 and a public hearing was
held in Christchurch in August.
The Environmental Risk
Management Authority (ERMA) has approved with conditions an
application from Crop and Food
Research to field test genetically modified plants of the
allium family, including onions, spring onions, leeks and
garlic.
The application is to assess the performance of the plants in
field conditions over a ten year period.
The approval is for a field trial site of a maximum 2.5 hectares
and within that a small number of onion plants would be allowed
to flower.
Chair of the Authority’s decision making committee, Helen
Atkins, said that among the many controls on the trial is a
requirement that all flowering onions must be contained within
cages. These comprise a rigid framework covered with a double
layer of fine-mesh material. Laboratory-bred fly pupae would be
introduced into the cages to carry out pollination. Because
alliums are insect pollinated, the cages will prevent flies from
transporting pollen to other plants.
All flies in the pollination cages must be killed before the
cages are opened to prevent the possibility of escape.
All GM material no longer required must be killed on-site by
composting or be removed to a containment facility for further
research or destruction.
During the course of the trial Crop and Food Research staff are
required to check the field test regularly (e.g. the pollination
cages must be inspected daily for damage or dislodgment which
could result in the escape of insects carrying pollen). In
addition there will on-going surveillance and inspection by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to ensure that no GM plants
escape from the site. There will also be two years’ monitoring
of the site once the field trial is concluded to check that no
‘volunteer’ alliums emerge.
It is the first GM field trial approval since 2007, and the
fourth since 2001 when the Royal Commission on Genetic
Modification said New Zealand should proceed with caution on
biotechnology research.
The full decision document can be found on the ERMA New Zealand
website at
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/search/registers.html?aid=GMF06002
28 July 2008
ERMA New Zealand has today released an Evaluation
and Review Report on a Crop & Food Research
application to field test genetically modified (GM)
plants of the allium family - onions, spring onions,
leeks and garlic.
The application is to test in containment GM onion,
spring onion, leek and garlic plants to assess their
performance in the field and their environmental
impact.
ERMA New Zealand’s Dr Geoff Ridley said the report
is based on information from the field test
application, additional research, and public
submissions. It is a source of advice to the
Environmental Risk Management Authority’s committee
that will be convened to consider the application
and make a decision on it.
A public hearing on the application will be held in
Christchurch on 12 August 2008. Information provided
at the hearing will be used by the Authority in its
decision making consideration.
The application seeks approval to field test GM
alliums at a Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry-approved field containment facility in the
Lincoln region over a period of ten years. At any
one time a maximum of 2.5 hectares would be planted
in GM alliums.
The Evaluation and Review Report can be found on the
ERMA New Zealand website at:
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/search/registers.html?id=22687
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