29 September 2003
The Environmental Risk Management Authority announced today that a public hearing will be held to consider an application by Crop and Food to field test GM onions (GMF03001) starting on 3 November in Christchurch.
The purpose of the application is to field test onions modified for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate, and to evaluate their environmental impact; herbicide tolerance; agronomic performance; development as cultivars and equivalency to non-genetically modified onions. Full details of the application are available from our Application Register
ERMA New Zealand publicly notified the application on 10 July 2003. Approximately 1,900 submissions were received, the majority of these in a standard format covering a similar suite of issues. 427 of those who have made a submission have expressed a wish to be heard.
Hearings are a fundamental part of the HSNO Act, facilitating the public's right to be heard in regard to notified applications. They are also an opportunity for the Authority to be fully informed on an application and for the parties to put before that Authority information which is relevant to the application under consideration. The emphasis will be on the risks, costs and benefits of the application in the context of the statutory framework of the HSNO Act.
For further information please contact:
Julie Watson,
Manager, Communications.
Tele: +64 4 918 4824.
Fax: +64 4 914 0433.
Email: info@ermanz.govt.nz