Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of this field test?

The purpose, as stated in the application is: to field test over 10 consecutive years, the vegetable allium species onion, garlic, and leek, with genetically modified (GM) agronomic and quality traits in order to assess performance in the field and to investigate environmental impacts of these plants.

What does a field test mean?

Under the HSNO Act a field test is the conducting of trials on the effects of the organism under conditions similar to those of the environment into which the organism is likely to be released.

Under a field test the organism or any heritable material must be fully contained and must not be allowed to leave the site. At the end of the field test this material must be able to be retrieved or destroyed. This means that a field test is a contained activity and measures must be put in place to prevent the spread of the organism into the wider environment beyond the field test site.

How would this trial differ from the existing onions field trial?

The applicant already has approval to field test in containment onions genetically modified for herbicide resistance traits over a 10 year period. The new application proposes to field test onions, leek and garlic genetically modified for agronomic and quality traits.

The key differences in this new application are:
• the testing of additional traits;
• the use of a wider range of plants;
• flowering and pollination of a small number of onion plants within mesh enclosures in the field test site; and
• the planting of onion seed directly in the field test site.

How would the spread of pollen be prevented?

The applicant proposes to allow a small number of onion plants to flower and be pollinated within mesh enclosures in the contained field test site. Onions are insect-pollinated and the insects used to pollinate the onion plants will be contained within the mesh enclosures.

The risks and benefits of allowing flowering and pollination will be thoroughly assessed by the hearing committee.


How do I get involved in the process?

You can participate in the process by making a submission on the application. Submissions can be made to ERMA New Zealand until Monday, 26 May 2008. That is six weeks after public notification of the application by ERMA New Zealand. You can make a submission on the application by using the process found here  or send your comments by post. If you wish, you can choose to present your views in person before the hearing committee at a public hearing. To do this, remember to say in your submission that you wish to be heard. You will then be advised of when and where a hearing (if required) will be held.

What is a public hearing?

A public hearing is the opportunity for anyone who made a submission to present their submission to the hearing committee. The committee comprises the decision makers on the application and is composed of members of the Authority. The role of the hearing is for the Authority to gather information that could help in the decision-making process.

Where do I get more information on the application?

View application

Download a copy of the application

Submission Process

Visit the applicant’s website

Where do I get more information on the ERMA process?

Download more information from http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/resources/ppp.html