Next week at the Royal Commission

News release

Next week at the Royal Commission

Wellington - 2 March 2001: The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification will be consulting with youth, attending two hui and hearing additional evidence next week.

The Commission today concluded 12 weeks of Formal Hearings, with an extension of time to accommodate cross-examination of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) by ""interested persons"".

Up to 100 young New Zealanders will be attending the Commission's Youth Forum on Monday, 5 March 2001, at Te Papa between 10:00am and 3:30pm. Entry is by registration only, however, transcripts of the proceedings will be made available on the Commission's website.

The Commission will be in Dunedin on Tuesday, 6 March 2001, to attend a Regional Hui at Otakou Marae between 9:15am and 5:00pm.

On Thursday, 8 March 2001, Australia and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) will appear before the Commission at 2:00pm. The Commission has invited ANZFA to provide information about its processes and respond to the comments and criticisms of it by ""interested persons"" in proceedings to date. The public is welcome to attend this hearing at Level 11, Dalmuir House, 114 The Terrace, Wellington.

The Authority has made a submission to the Commission through the General Public Submission process and this is available on the Commission's website www.gmcommission.govt.nz.

The Commission will be hearing new and rebuttal evidence on Friday, 9 March 2001, between 9:30am and 5:00pm. Applications closed at 5:00pm today. Schedule details will be made available early next week.

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The Commission will conclude the week with a Regional Hui in Auckland on Saturday, 10 March 2001. The hui will be held at Orakei Marae between 9:15am and 5:00pm.

Closing submissions will be heard by the Commission during the week commencing 12 March 2001. A schedule of those appearing is attached. The public is welcome to view these proceedings on Level 11 of Dalmuir House, 114 The Terrace, Wellington, between 9:30am and 5:00pm.

ENDS

The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was established by Order in Council on 8 May 2000 and is chaired by Sir Thomas Eichelbaum. The other members of the Commission are Dr Jacqueline Allan, Dr Jean Fleming and the Rt Rev Richard Randerson. The Commission is required to report by 1 June 2001.

Please note: For further information, please contact: Sarah Adamson, Media Relations Officer, phone: 04 495 9151 or 021 499 510.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS OF CLOSING SUBMISSIONS

Notification to "interested persons"

A Schedule of Hearings was emailed on Tuesday, 27 February 2001, showing the approximate times at which "interested persons" would be presenting their Closing Submissions to the Commission.

Subsequently, a number of "interested persons" requested changes to their hearing times. These requests have been accommodated as far as possible. The final Schedule has now been approved by the Commission and is set out below.

Please note that this is the Final Schedule and no further changes can be made.

Note to presenters: If both Legal and Closing Submissions are being made, the Legal Submission should be made first, followed by the Closing Submission. Except where special arrangements have been made.

The Schedule below sets out the day and the order of Closing Submissions, but does not allocate a time of hearing. Presenters are asked to follow the procedure of the Formal Hearings and to be available in the Hearing Room as early as possible. Hearings will start at 9.30am and finish at 5.00pm. There will be a break for lunch at 1.00 pm.

If you are travelling by plane on the day and will not arrive until after the commencement of the day's proceedings, please advise Julie Browne on 04 495 9151 of your likely time of arrival.

AMENDED SCHEDULE OF HEARINGS

12 March 2001

Counsel Assisting the Commission Closing submission

New Zealand Life Science Network (Inc) Closing and legal submissions

13 March 2001

New Zealand Dairy Board Closing and legal submissions

Association of Crown Research Institutes Closing submission

Environmental Risk Management Authority Closing and legal submissions

Greenpeace (New Zealand) Inc Closing and legal submissions

Pesticide Action Network New Zealand Closing and legal submissions

14 March 2001

Pacific Institute of Resource Management Closing submission

Nelson GE Awareness Group Closing and legal submissions

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Closing submission

GE Free New Zealand (RAGE) in Food and Environment Incorporated Closing and legal submissions

Friends of the Earth (New Zealand) Ltd Closing and legal submissions

A2 Corporation Limited Closing and legal submissions

15 March 2001

Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand Closing and legal submissions

New Zealand Organisation for Rare Diseases & Lysosomal Diseases New Zealand Closing submission

Interchurch Commission on Genetic Engineering Closing submission

Counsel Assisting Closing remarks The proceedings on Friday, 15 March 2001, will be concluded by the Commission's remarks closing the Formal Hearings.

WRITTEN CLOSING SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE COMMISSION'S OFFICE BY 5.00 PM ON FRIDAY, 9 MARCH 2001.

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