Regional Approach to Protecting the Environment

Forest and Bird, Issue 314, 1 November 2004, Page 44

Regional Approach to Protecting the Environment

—ZELKA GRAMMER

he Northern branch of Forest and Bird has made a number of submissions to local government authorities expressing concerns about the risks to the environment posed by genetically modified organisms.In its submissions, the branch has indicated support for a strong precautionary approach towards genetic engineering. Local authorities, Local Government NZ and environmental NGOs have become increasingly concerned about the risks of genetic engineering since the moratorium on release of GMOs was lifted late last year. The failure of central government to put in place a strict liability regime or address the legitimate concerns raised by local government to the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill Select Committee has resulted in Northland local authorities taking the lead nationally in addressing the issue. The Whangarei, Kaipara,

Far North and Rodney district councils, with Local Government NZ and the Northland Regional Council, commissioned an independent GE report and legal opinion relating to GMOs. The legal opinion by Dr. Royden Somerville QC found that local authorities do have jurisdiction to manage land uses involving GMOs in the environment. The mechanisms involve using the RMA and Local Government Act over and above the regulation prescribed nationally in the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Changes adopted in the Northland Regional Council’s ‘Long Term Community Plam’ include ‘no further development and field-testing of transgenic organisms envisaged for agriculture, horticulture and forestry in Northland until the risk potential has been adequately identified and evaluated and a strict liability regime put in place’.