Issues

Cartagena Biosafety Protocol

On the question of ratification of the Cartagena Protocol Rural Women New Zealand would submit that the relevant processes are not in place to reliably adhere to the Cartagena Protocol and that the issue be reviewed in June 2005.

Reasons for our reservations:

•  We note that the exporters will be hit with compliance costs to substantiate their export product. It appears that non -GM producers such as the average farmer will be meeting this cost. Penalising farmers producing export products would seem detrimental to New Zealand agriculture sector.

•  The processes currently in New Zealand have proven to be unable to prevent cross contamination and therefore the overall ability to comply with the conditions of the protocol is questionable. This is substantiated in the MAF claim that no maize can be deemed 100% GE free.

•  Clarification of the Committee and the processes and procedures is required before adhering to a protocol they may or may not assist trade.

For more information on the Cartagena Protocol, see www.biodiv.org/biosafety/default.aspx

Contact Jo-Anne Stokes,

Executive Officer

Rural Women New Zealand

Phone 04 473 5524

Email: Jo-Anne.Stokes@ruralwomen.org.nz