| | 18/July/25
| | New Zealand: Petition calls for halt to Gene Technology Bill as export leaders urge cautious approach A group of concerned citizens is urging the government to halt the proposed Gene Technology Bill, which deregulates a whole class of GMOs. A petition was presented to Labour MP Deborah Russell at Parliament requesting work on the bill be paused. Signed by at least 6058 people – including scientists, health professionals, and organic producers – the petition seeks to create a Royal Commission of Inquiry “into the health and safety of people and the environment on behalf of citizens”. Among those urging caution is Beef + Lamb NZ, which says many farmers support reform in principle but are concerned about traceability, export risk and a lack of engagement. Dr Elvira Dommisse, a former government crop researcher during the first wave of GMOs in the 1990s, called the bill “the Wild West of genetic modification”. “These politicians don’t realise that if they let the genie out of the bottle, it’s going to be their food and their kids’ food and their grandkids’ food that’s also going to be adulterated.” Claire Bleakley, president of GE Free NZ, said, “It doesn’t matter whether you are a home gardener or a commercial grower, you will not know because it won’t be labelled.” The Royal Society warned that the risk of consumer backlash to GM products was clear and that ensuring farmers had the choice to remain GMO-free was imperative. One of NZ’s leading GMO risk experts, Prof Jack Heinemann, was not consulted on the bill before it was presented to Parliament. “I have never been contacted by either officials or government to discuss the Gene Tech Bill,” he said. “It is no secret that I do not support the bill in its present form.” The New Zealand Herald (archived version here) New Zealand: Gene technology bill is "biggest threat" Environmental campaigner Claire Bleakley said the support to halt the GMO deregulation bill (see above) was “just fantastic” and an indication of the level of public and commercial concern for a piece of legislation she believed was “the biggest threat to our economy, our choice and our sovereignty”. The Post US: Senator Cory Booker pitches bill to allow lawsuits against pesticide makers over "toxic products" Senator Cory Booker on Thursday introduced legislation that would create a federal “right of action”, allowing people to sue pesticide makers such as Bayer and Syngenta, and others, for allegedly causing health issues such as cancer and Parkinson’s disease. The Pesticide Injury Accountability Act would “ensure that pesticide manufacturers can be held responsible for the harm caused by their toxic products”, according to a summary of the bill. If passed, the law would turn the tables on efforts by Bayer and a coalition of agricultural organisations as they push for state-by-state legislation blocking individuals from being able to file lawsuits accusing the companies of failing to warn of the risks of their products. The industry has also been pushing for federal preemptive protections against litigation. The Guardian We hope you’ve found this newsletter interesting. It was made possible by GMWatch supporters. To become one, please support our work with a one-off or regular donation. Thank you! __________________________________________________________ Website: http://www.gmwatch.org
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