Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

GE clause dropped from council policy statement

Updated at 9:54 am on 8 October 2012

Northland's GE-Free group says the regional council is turning a deaf ear to the community's strong views on keeping genetically-engineered crops and livestock out of the region.

The council's new regional policy statement has left out a precautionary GE clause it had proposed in an earlier discussion document.

Councils from Auckland north have been looking at ways to ban GE organisms, rather than leaving control to central government.

GE-Free Northland spokesperson Zelka Grammer says Northland Regional Council needs to turn up its hearing aid.

She says the GE-Free clause attracted more submissions in support than any other issue in the policy statement.

Council chairman Craig Brown says he is personally disappointed the policy committee dropped the clause, and is urging those who object to make their views known.

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