"I was very surprised at being told it was a political gimmick... It was never intended to be. I have a particular point of view, but I was trying to present it unpolemically and as openly, transparently and helpfully as I could. We're talking about food ... nothing is more substantial or fundamental to human beings, we're talking about our bodies, our lives, our children." - Michael Meacher, the UK's former Environment Minister

Looks like Labour is battening down the hatches in NZ as they push forward their unpopular policy of ending their GE moratorium.

1.Meacher warns select committee and government ministers of GE risks
2.Greenpeace 'shocked' by rude reception for British MP
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1.Meacher warns select committee and government ministers of GE risks
GE Free NZ  6.8.03 - Press release

Today in the Education and Science Select committee, Michael Meacher ex minister of environment gave evidence for Greenpeace warning that co-existence of GE and conventional crops is impossible.

The news was not well received, the select committee carefully towing the government's line that they were 'preserving opportunities', and that GE food was safe, despite not being able to front up with any scientific peer reviewed studies.

Meacher stated that a UK recent report, the results of a scientific review, show that there is a need to exhaustively test GE foods to ensure that there are no negative effects particularly on young children.

He remarked that he was surprised that New Zealand was willing to throw away its market advantages of GE Free production particularly as the worlds largest dairy producer producing 1/3 of the global production and exporting 95%  particularly to markets in the EU and Japan which were not accepting of GE food.

He spoke of useful discussions with both Marian Hobbs and Pete Hodgson. Pete Hodgson wanted to discuss pine trees and possum sterility and whether or not  this could be passed to other species. This is something that GE Free New Zealand in Food and Environment have raised so it appears there is some hope that government may be listening.

"We urge the Select Commitee and all MP's to learn the lessons from overseas. We must preserve our opportunities and that means legislation requiring ERMA to protect GE-Free production for future generations," says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment.

ENDS

Contact Jon Carapiet 09 815 3370 
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2.Greenpeace 'shocked' by rude reception for British MP
06 August 2003
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2603936a6160,00.html

Greenpeace says it was shocked at how rudely former British environment minister Michael Meacher was treated at a parliamentary select committee today.
                            
Mr Meacher's appearance on behalf of Greenpeace came to an abrupt end when committee chairman Brian Donnelly labelled it a political stunt.
                            
Greenpeace alleged Mr Donnelly had "gagged" Mr Meacher, who it brought to address the education and science committee on the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill.
                            
After being warned by Mr Donnelly to confine himself to the legislation, Mr Meacher was pulled up when he strayed into banned territory.
                            
After Mr Meacher said Europe was "astonished" with the risk New Zealand was about to take with the release of genetically modified organisms, Mr Donnelly stepped in.
                            
"We have been hoodwinked in this particular case and I am not prepared to go on with this," he said.
                            
He allowed Mr Meacher to answer several questions from National MP Paul Hutchinson.
                            
As Mr Meacher rose to leave Mr Donnelly apologised, saying he had to defend the role of the select committee as an agent of Parliament.
                            
Greenpeace anti-genetic engineering campaigner Steve Abel said New Zealand had missed the chance to benefit from the British MP's understanding of the rejection of GE foods in Europe. Mr Meacher had been trying to present information highly pertinent to the legislation, which will allow "conditional release" of GE crops from October, Mr Abel said.

Later Mr Meacher said he was "surprised" the committee was not interested in Britain's experience. He had been in politics for too long to be angry or hurt by his reception, he said.
                          
"I was very surprised at being told it was a political gimmick.
                            
"I didn't interpret it like that at all. It was never intended to be. I have a particular point of view, but I was trying to present it unpolemically and as openly, transparently and helpfully as I could.
                            
"We're talking about food ... nothing is more substantial or fundamental to human beings, we're talking about our bodies, our lives, our children."
                            
The bill is the Government's response to the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.
                            
If passed it would allow conditional release of genetically engineered organisms and review the liability regime to deal with issues surrounding such organisms. It would also develop a biotechnology strategy and set up programmes to address social, economic, ethical, environmental and agricultural research as identified by the commission.