February 23, 2000
The Environmental Risk Management Authority has announced its decision on the reassessment of genetically modified salmon.
The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited (NZKSCL) has been developing genetically modified salmon at its research facility at Kaituna near Blenheim since 1994. The Authority had to decide if controls placed on the operation under an earlier voluntary regime were appropriate under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act, which came into effect in 1998.
The organism is the introduced Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). It has been modified by an all fish gene construct, containing the ocean pout anti freeze protein, plus the Chinook salmon growth hormone cDNA.
The salmon experiment was one of 262 existing GMO projects reviewed by ERMA New Zealand when the new HSNO legislation came into force. Last year, the Chief Executive of ERMA New Zealand, Dr. Bas Walker applied for a reassessment using his powers under the Act. Background to decision.
Dr. Walker emphasized that the reassessment was not sought because of any deficiency in the company?s implementation of the voluntary controls, or because escape was thought to be at all likely.
The purpose was simply to align the controls with the very strict requirements of the HSNO Act.?
The Authority decided in April 1999 that there were grounds for reassessment; that the operation constituted a development activity and not a field test; and that any reassessment should focus on the containment controls for the facility. The project itself continued to operate as an approved research programme.
The reassessment considered the containment of the genetically modified salmon, including eggs; the disposal of the fish; and contingency plans to counter events (such as flooding) which might threaten the effectiveness of the containment system.
In its decision today the Authority has made some key changes to the existing controls, as follows:
Reduction of the size of wire mesh screens (used for containing any eggs released from mature female salmon) from 4mm to 3mm square - to reduce even further the remote potential for eggs smaller than the average size of 5mm to 7mm to escape the grow-out races.
Disposal of transgenic biological Chinook salmon material by burial at the local landfill, under specific conditions.
The containment facility to be operated in accordance with the ERMA New Zealand/Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Regulatory Authority Standard 154.03.03: Containment Facilities for Vertebrate Laboratory Animals (ERMA NZ/MAF Standard) and The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited Kaituna Research and Development Hatchery Containment Manual for Genetically Modified Salmon as approved by MAF.
A contingency plan to be included in the containment manual to manage events (such as flooding) which may threaten the effectiveness of the containment system or the accidental release or deliberate removal of viable genetic material from the facility.
The Authority has also put controls on the consumption of GM salmon from the programme.
The salmon are not to be offered for human or animal consumption unless the consumption is for test purposes; is within the containment facility; and in the case of human consumption, with the informed consent of those involved. The company must submit a tasting proposal to the written satisfaction of the Authority, before any such testing is undertaken. The Authority noted that human consumption may require approval from other agencies. For more information see the GM salmon focus page.
The full text of the decision and information on the reassessment process are available on the ERMA New Zealand website or on request from ERMA New Zealand
For further information:
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Dr Bas Walker, |
Karen Cronin, |