Ewen-Street Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ewen-Street Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8661] 
3.  
IAN EWEN-STREET (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Agriculture 
: What assurances can he give organic farmers and bee-keepers that their livelihoods will not be ruined by contamination by GE organisms? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS (Minister for the Environment) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Agriculture 
: The same assurances I can give to all New Zealanders that their health environment and economic well-being will not be affected adversely following the expiry of the moratorium. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: Is the Minister intending to forsake the organic and beef product sectors of the economy for the sake of promoting the GE industry; if not will he tell the people who are protesting outside the House at this moment how they can protect themselves from the contamination by the GE sector that is so widespread overseas? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I maintain my original answer which is that this Government is concerned about protecting all New Zealanders—be they organic producers or bee-keepers—so that they can follow their rightful industry just as participants in organic produce and organic honey in Argentina are able to do so in their country. 
Janet Mackey 
: What work is under way that gives the Government confidence that the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops is possible? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: In the short to medium term the Environmental Risk Management Authority’s cautious case-by-case assessment of applications will effectively address any issues relating to coexistence. At the same time officials are addressing issues surrounding the development of an industry code of practice. Any code of practice is likely to be based on the current seed certification scheme. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Why has the Government failed to fund vital bee research at Ruakura including research on organics given that a recent study by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry estimates an annual loss to the South Island pastoral sector of $234 million if the varroa bee mite gets established; and how can he convince anyone that he is not planning the ruination of all farmers by taking bee management so carelessly? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I cannot answer the question about the Ruakura project but the varroa mite arrived in this country in 1997-98 and the fact that it has not moved to the South Island since that time is absolute evidence of the very excellent work done by biosecurity. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Why has the Government not met recommendation 7.7 of the royal commission report which calls for an industry code of practice to be established to ensure effective separation distances between genetically modified and unmodified crops; and given that such work has not been done what was the point of the moratorium? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: The point of the moratorium concerned a whole lot of issues other than the establishment of the code of generic practice. We can develop a generic code of practice based on current seed certification and on agreements between organic and conventional farmers but until we know which particular crop we are dealing with we will in the meantime use the ability of the Environmental Risk Management Authority to set conditions on a case-by-case basis to refine what we have for seed certification and protect neighbours from the adverse effects. 
Bernie Ogilvy 
: Has there been any overseas experience with countries exporting both organic crops and GM crops simultaneously; if so has this had any measurable negative impact on organic crop exports to date? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: Yes we have the experience of Argentina. It is the second-largest producer of genetically modified crops but it also has the second-largest area in the world of certified organic crops. It has continued to increase its exports in both lines into the European Union. It also exports 192 tonnes of its total organic honey production of 245 tonnes into the European Union. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: In respect of the Minister’s earlier answer is she aware that around 1000 organic farmers in Canada are taking a lawsuit in response to the widespread contamination they have had from GE organisms and their consequent loss of markets? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I am aware of Canadian organic farmers who are also succeeding in exporting their crops into Europe. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: What responsibility will the Government take if the livelihoods of organic farmers bee-keepers and conventional farmers are harmed through contamination by GE crops irrespective of whether those GE crop-growers have violated any laws? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: It is not the intention of this Government that the livelihood of any bee-keeper or organic grower will be affected by the introduction of GM crops. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I seek leave to table a report entitled  
Bee Industry Stung as Research Abandoned. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is.