New Zealand has come one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology.
The first reading of the Gene Technology Bill was passed, and Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins said this legislation would end New Zealand's nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab.
She said it was a major milestone in modernising laws to unlock the potential of science.
This technology can deliver enormous benefits for New Zealand, including access to better cancer treatments and increased productivity for farmers through disease-resistant and drought-resistant grasses and tools to help meet emissions targets.
“This all adds up to greater economic gains for the country.”
Restrictive rules and time-consuming processes have made research outside the lab almost impossible, and these changes will also allow New Zealand to catch up to global best practices.
The Gene Technology Bill will further enable science to grow and ensure gene technologies have been managed proportionate to their risk.
The legislation was based on Australia’s Gene Technology Act 2000 and modified to work here in New Zealand. Like Australia, a regulator will be established to manage potential risks to human health and the environment.
The regulator will operate outside the Environmental Protection Authority, and the new regime has been expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025.
“New Zealanders will get the chance to have their say during the full select committee process that will open shortly and run for six months.”
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