A Wairarapa genetics campaigner is being hauled back to court after her group won a precedent-setting case against Agresearch and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA).
AgResearch and ERMA have appealed a High Court ruling made earlier this year that upheld GE Free NZ's appeal against four applications to genetically modify on up to 85 species of animals.
Last October, GE Free NZ went to the High Court to appeal a decision by ERMA NZ to notify applications submitted by AgResearch that ranged from importing genetically engineered embryo's created overseas, to field trialing and commercial production of pharmaceuticals in milk and development of animals to model disease.
After 12 weeks of deliberation, the court found that ERMA erred in receiving the applications from AgResearch and declared them invalid.
The decision instructed ERMA to immediately halt processing the applications made by AgResearch who sought the right to modify nine species of animals, for an unlimited period, for commercial ventures anywhere in New Zealand.
Featherston organic farmer Claire Bleakley, who is president of GE Free NZ in food and environment, lead the charge and called the decision a powerful shot against "shoddy science".
ERMA and AgResearch filed a Notice of Appeal just weeks after the decision by Justice Denis Clifford.
They have appealed the decision on a range of grounds, among them that the "reasoning and decision of the High Court were in error in fact and in law".
"GE Free NZ is confident that Justice Clifford's decision will be upheld on appeal," Ms Bleakley said.
"The points of law were so lacking that there was just no way they can be overturned. The public of New Zealand has acts in place to protect the environment and safety of its citizens. Big business does not have the right to come in and decide it will re-write the law and put in an application that is sub-standard."
The two-day Court of Appeal showdown is set down for late January.
© APN News & Media Ltd 2009.
