Court Case for Local Choice About GMOs

On Friday, 24 April, an important Environment Court hearing will take place in Whangarei about the outdoor use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

GE Free Northland and the Soil & Health Association of NZ are seeking confirmation of their view that there is jurisdiction under the Resource Management Act for local control of outdoor use of GMOs in the face of a challenge to jurisdiction by Federated Farmers New Zealand.

“We support the right of local bodies to manage any potential use of GMOs in their area, using the Resource Management Act. We applaud the efforts of various NZ councils to put in place a much-needed additional tier of local protection against the risks of outdoor use of GMOs to our biosecurity, GE free primary producers, economy, environment, and food sovereignty," said GE Free Northland spokesperson Martin Robinson.

"Our councils have taken these steps because their ratepayers want a more locally responsive and planned approach than central government requires," said Mr. Robinson.

The court case is being heard because Federated Farmers of NZ lodged an appeal with the Environment Court, opposing precautionary GMO provisions in the new Northland Regional Policy Statement, the over-arching policy document for resource management in Northland over the next 10 years.

GE Free Northland and Soil & Health (along with 19 other section 274 parties who also made submissions on the GMO issue) support the
Whangarei District Council and oppose Federated Farmers of NZ.

"A planning regime using the RMA would enable truly sustainable integrated management, with a view to ensuring the outdoor use of GMOs is not established in proximity to other sensitive forms of land use,” said Mr Robinson, .“

"Establishing jurisdiction under the RMA would facilitate local involvement in GMO issues and serve to protect existing GE-free primary producers and other ratepayers. This case is of national significance."

“In our view, a strong precautionary approach to GMOs (or even better, outright prohibition) is desirable to prevent potentially enormous costs falling on ratepayers from damage or unforeseen adverse effects from GE experiments or release of GE organisms,” said Mr Robinson.

ENDS

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