Genetic Engineering

Risk Evaluation and Management Options

An Inter-Council Working Party on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Risk Evaluation and Management Options has been established. Councils on the Working Party included the Far North, Whangarei, Kaipara, and Rodney District Councils, Waitakere City Council, and Auckland and Northland Regional Councils

Three major reports commissioned by the Working Party have identified a range of risks involved with the trialling and release of GMOs. They also include approaches to managing those risks.

These include environmental risks, such as:

• GMOs becoming invasive and affecting non-target species including indigenous flora and fauna
• the development of herbicide or pesticide resistance creating 'super-weeds' or 'super-pests'
• long term effects on ecosystem functioning.

There are socio-cultural risks, such as:

• effects on Maori cultural beliefs of whakapapa, mauri, tikanga
• ethical concerns about mixing genes from different species including human genes
• concerns about the long term safety of genetically engineered food.

Lastly, there are economic risks, such as:

• loss of income through contamination (or perceived contamination) of non-GMO food products
• negative effects on marketing and branding opportunities such as 'clean and green' or 'naturally Northland'
• costs associated with environmental damage such as clean-up costs for invasive weeds or pests.

Linked to these risks are limited liability provisions under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996.

GMO Poll

In 2009, Colmar Brunton was commissioned by the Inter-council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options to conduct a survey. Its purpose was to gauge the degree to which communities are willing to accept risks associated with the outdoor use of GMOs, and to test options for responding to these risks. There is currently no outdoor use of GM plants or animals in Auckland and Northland.

• two thirds or more of the residents polled want local or regional councils to have a role in regulating GMOs in their areas, either by setting local rules or by a change of legislation at the national level. Support in the Auckland region averaged 68% and 74% in Northland.
• around two thirds of the respondents also favoured regulation of at least a strength that would make users of these GMOs legally responsible for any environmental or economic harm - either through local regulation or by way of changes to national legislation. (Auckland 64%, Northland 67%).
• the survey indicated that around half the residents (Auckland 44% and Northland 53%) want councils to have the right to prohibit GM plants and animals, either by setting local rules or allowing communities, through their councils, the right to reject use of a particular GMO in its area when the national regulator, ERMA, is processing applications.
• when questioned whether councils should set rules in addition to those set by ERMA, 40% of Auckland respondents supported this mechanism and 46% of Northland respondents were in support (49% in Whangarei). Amongst those respondents who support their council setting rules, total prohibition is the most favoured level of regulation, with strict liability provisions the next most favoured, and prohibiting only GMOs for food production the third favoured.
• all communities strongly favour making users of GMOs legally responsible for any economic or environmental harm that may result. Support for regulation to make users of GMOs strictly liable for any harm caused ranged from 63% to 72% for individual councils.
• support for local regulation is strongest amongst Maori, particularly in the Northland region. It is also strongest amongst semi-rural and rural residents while urban views vary by region. Rural residents are more likely to favour prohibiting GMOs in both Northland and Auckland than are semi-rural or urban residents. Females are more likely to support local regulation than are males, and support is greatest amongst 18-39 year olds.

Reports

Background documents and reports are listed under the headings below. Select from the list by clicking on the '+' to display the contents of each section.