NZ Herald: Lab errors leads to GE leak

David Fisher writes in the New Zealand Herald about a probe into last year’s GE breach at Plant and Food Research’s Lincoln lab.

While no criminal charges have been laid, the probe found that there were a number of problems related to the handling of the GE seeds, including not using the proper equipment to prevent them being released from the lab.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“The investigation led to no criminal charges being filed – because investigators could not identify beyond reasonable doubt how the seeds escaped confinement to grow outside the glasshouse.

“Problems included Plant and Food Research staff using mesh over an air vent and a storm water drain that had holes bigger than the seeds they were meant to stop.”