An Open Letter From Jeanette Fitzsimons, Green Party Co-leader

Monday, November 18th 2002

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Thank you for writing to key Ministers to urge them to support organics and keep NZ GE Free. The Greens are working for exactly that and it is just great to have all that lobbying support happening at the same time.

Green policy is that we could be organic by 2020 if we offered research and advisory support and removed some of the barriers for those who want to change. It is the most exciting marketing opportunity facing us. We also oppose all release of living GE organisms into our food or the environment. GMOs should, in our view, be kept in a contained laboratory.

Unfortunately the law since 1996 allows both field trials (of which we have had around 17 over the years) and full commercial release (which has not happened yet). We have been working hard to get the law changed to stop both of these but the Government is determined to proceed. The new Act imposes a moratorium on release of GMOs but also sets an automatic expiry date of October next year. I have worked very hard at the select committee stage to get the expiry of the moratorium removed but did not succeed. I was one Green MP on a committee of 13 so could not outvote all the rest.

I did achieve some changes - like compulsory monitoring before, during and after field trials, ERMA required to consider horizontal gene transfer, and some general tightening up but the big issue remains the lifting of the moratorium next year.

Finally, we saw the election as the opportunity to persuade Labour to change its mind. We stated clearly in advance that we would not support a government that lifted the moratorium. If the voters had given us the balance of power that would have forced Labour to keep the moratorium in place or give up being the government. This was the best chance voters have ever had to stop the release of GE.

However the election turnout was the lowest for a very long time and not enough voters supported the Greens for this strategy to work. We increased our vote but Labour has the support of United to govern and United will not stop the lifting of the moratorium. We have stuck to our word and will not support Labour on confidence and supply although we will vote for good legislation wherever it comes from.

That leaves little that can be done in Parliament now to make NZ GE Free. It is up to the people again to persuade Labour to leave the moratorium in place. Rest assured that we will take any opportunity that occurs to advance the cause of a GE Free New Zealand but I do not see at present where such opportunities will come from. There are no further votes in the House on the moratorium.

Thanks again for your efforts for a GE Free future.

Sincerely
Jeanette Fitzsimons

Green Party Co-leader

Ideal Health have a GE free policy. We do not knowingly stock or recommend any product that contains Genetically Modified Organisms or ingredients.

If you need help or advice, you are welcome to email our naturopathic team with your health question.

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