May 18, 2001
The Environmental Risk Management Authority reported back to the High Court today on its further reconsideration of an application to field test genetically modified cattle.
The application from Ag Research Ltd, to insert synthetic human genes in dairy cattle, was first approved in July 2000 but subsequently appealed. In its 2 May decision upholding the appeal, the Court instructed that the original approval be set aside and that the Authority re consider the application, in accordance with the Methodology Order.
The Authority announced last week that it would refer the application to a special committee, comprising members of the original approval panel. It noted that it proposed to consider the application on the basis of all the information made available to it in the course of the earlier application process, and more transparently apply the processes set out in the Methodology.
In today's hearing, counsel for ERMA New Zealand advised the Court that the consideration process was well under way. The Authority had recently received believed by several submitters to be new and relevant to the application. Subject to legal and technical advice on this information, and any other unforeseen circumstances, the Authority expects to have completed the final consideration process by the end of next week.
Today Ag Research has been granted an extension of the stay on the decision related to the unborn calves. This means they will continue to be legally approved organisms, under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, until noon on 28 May or earlier if the decision is made before then.
ERMA New Zealand Chief Executive, Dr Bas Walker said that the further instructions from the Court today confirmed the high priority that the Authority has been giving to the decision.
For further information:
| Dr Bas Walker, Chief Executive, ERMA New Zealand. Ph: +64 4 473 8426. |
Karen Cronin, Communications Manager, ERMA New Zealand. Ph: +64 4 918 4826. |
For more information on the cattle applicaton go to our focus page.