David Williams of The Press writes that Erma, the Environmental Risk Management Authority, wants to be involved in future inspections of genetically modified (GM) crops.
The move has come following errors made during the trials of GM brassicas last year at Lincoln.
An excerpt: (read in full here)
“A special committee of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) has recommended that Erma representatives accompany Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) staff on trial inspections, especially in the first year.
“The ministry should also do more non-notified checks after the mishandled Plant & Food Research trial, the committee said.
“Erma can make recommendations only to MAFBNZ, which enforces environmental controls for GM work.”