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The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification - submissionsThe Golden Bay Organic Employment and Education TrustSTRATEGIC ISSUES & OPTIONS — SECTIONS A(1),Submission The Golden Bay Organic Employment and Education Trust (Golden Bay) stated that organic production is one of the fastest growing industries in the world but it is being sacrificed for a technology that no-one wants. In their opinion, the release of GMOs into the environment would destroy and forever end a thriving market segment. This would be immoral, unfair, undemocratic and completely unthinkable. They then submitted that untested and unwanted GM products, that have never been independently evaluated by scientists (who are not feeding at the GM trough), should not be allowed to ruin an industry whose products are in great demand. RISKS & BENEFITS — SECTIONS A(2), B(a), B(c), B(h)Submission Golden Bay submitted that there is a rapidly growing body of allegations and proof that the biotechnology industry has deliberately misled regulatory bodies, and have in fact submitted fraudulent ‘scientific information’. It is also of concern to Golden Bay that countries that have already embraced GM technology are already finding a multitude of disastrous consequences despite industry assurances of safety. In the opinion of Golden Bay, it is impossible to obtain reliable information on where, how and for what purposes GM technology is being used in New Zealand. Furthermore, since unbiased and independent testing had not been done, and since the data that has been made available has been provided by the corporations, institutions, and scientists who stand to profit monetarily, the level of uncertainty in respect to GMOs is great. Safety testing data for both agricultural biotechnology and human genetic testing and applications, which is now concealed or partially revealed, must be fully disclosed to the government and made public. This will mean forcing biotechnology companies to reveal their own test data. An article in the Jan/Feb 2000 Multinational Monitor was also submitted to the Commission in respect to pollen drift. This article stated that a study at the John Innes Centre in Norwich found that genetically engineered pollen had been found to travel up to three miles (approximately 5 km) carried by wind, bees and other insects. This was followed by a statement that the threat of unknown GM material flying through the air to another farmer’s land was therefore very real. Further studies that were of a concern to Golden Bay, as outlined in the above article, were:
It was further submitted that since the benefits of GM technology were largely corporate hype the only benefit is the enriching of those in line for monetary gain by its use. Golden Bay then equated the public with laboratory rats stating that they would be disadvantaged by the use of this technology. LAW & LEGISALTION — SECTIONS A(2), B(b), B(c),B(d), B(e), B(f), B(h)Submission Precautionary principle In the opinion of Golden Bay the precautionary principle must become the law in respect to all testing, trials, and releases of any GM substances and organisms. The precautionary principle should be defined, however, in its most demanding definition rather than the in the watered down, ‘gut-less’ form that has resulted from intense industry lobbying. The burden to prove safety must be on the biotechnology companies and all releases of GMOs should be forbidden until this safety is assured. Certification of safety and liability Furthermore, it is absolutely essential that truly impartial, non-industry influenced scientists who have no financial stake in GM technology certify the safety of GMOs. Golden Bay stated that they found the approach of the major biotechnology companies inconsistent. This is because these companies claim that the technology is safe but they not willing to accept liability for possible or probable health, environmental, and economic disasters that result from the use of their ‘safe’ products. Biotechnology companies should be fully liable for any harm caused by the use of their technology. They must also be required to end the use of their products until liability is fully established and underwritten by a bond or insurance policy. International legal obligations General issues in respect to globalisation, the WTO, and New Zealand’s international obligations were also raised by Golden Bay. They stated that New Zealand’s international legal obligations relative to the use or avoidance of GM technology are not fully known and have not been fully, disclosed, debated or democratically arrived at. A full review of these obligations and the bodies that control them should be initiated. Intellectual property Golden Bay submitted that the patenting of all forms of life should be prevented by law. As per the article in the Multinational Monitor (as mentioned above) life patents facilitate the evolution of genetic engineering in dangerous directions. Life patents are at the core of bio piracy, the practice of corporate appropriation and patenting of the medical and agricultural knowledge. Life patents threaten food security, and impede medical and scientific research by denying researches the right to use and study patented processes and genes. Further Comment In general this submission raises problems that need to be addressed. These are:
Lonnie Davidson says: From the above submission: "A report from researchers from New York University that stated that the roots of Bt corn exude the Bt toxin into the soil, where it remains active for 243 days." There is an omission here that is critical. The Bt toxin in the soil was ONLY FOLLOWED for 243 days. We have absolutely no idea how long it remains active!
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