May 15, 2002
AgResearch has made an application to the Environmental Risk Management Authority to develop in containment a range of genetically modified cattle. This application is a substitute for an earlier application that was withdrawn on 11 April 2002. The previous application was designed to cover only those parts of the project that were outside of the scope of AgResearch's Institutional Biological Safety Committee (IBSC). (IBSCs act under delegated authority from the Environmental Risk Management Authority, to make decisions on low-risk genetic modification applications.)
The current application encompasses the full range of intended development work, covering generation of the gene constructs, through implantation of modified embryos in recipient cows to produce transgenic calves, to the development of lines of GM cattle to check gene stability and to characterise gene expression.
The purpose of this research is to develop transgenic cattle that can express functional therapeutic foreign proteins in their milk, and to develop transgenic cattle to study gene function and genetic performance.
The application was publicly notified in the four main daily newspapers on 15 May 2002 and will be available on the ERMA New Zealand website at www.ermanz.govt.nz. The public can now make submissions until 27 June 2002.
A date and location for any hearing will be announced after submissions close.
Submissions made on the previous AgResearch application will be applied to the current application on written request.
A focus page for this application is also available from the website.
For further information contact:
Julie Watson,
Communications Manager
ERMA New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 918 4824
Mob: 021 674 954