In the early 2000s, the GE Free NZ movement successfully fended off the release of Genetically Engineered organisms into our food and the environment. We insisted on a precautionary approach to the new technology and advocated for a vision of organic and sustainable food production.
Since then, Aotearoa New Zealand has effectively been free of genetically modified organisms in the environment. Our strict regulations have prevented the contamination of nature and food ever since and our GE Free producer status is of great economic value to our food producers.
Greenpeace Aotearoa supports the precautionary approach in regard to the use of GMOs in Aotearoa. It has served us well to keep GMOs out of the environment. If the use of gene technologies is permitted outside of approved containment facilities and deregulated to the extent proposed in this Bill, the health of our people and the environment is put at unacceptable risk.
Greenpeace Aotearoa opposes the Gene Technology Bill and recommends it be rejected in its entirety.
