Farmers and growers will have faster access to new agriculture and horticulture products because innovation drives success.
Regulation Minister David Seymour said that agriculture and horticulture products are integral to the largest sector of New Zealand’s tradable economy, the primary sector. It’s important to ensure regulatory settings give the sector the best chance at success.
The Cabinet accepted all 16 recommendations of the Ministry for Regulation to improve the new agriculture and horticulture product approval pathway.
“The changes will speed up the application process, make it clearer and more transparent, and ensure existing international research is utilised. It is estimated that reducing the current approval times for new products by half could generate benefits of about $272 million over 20 years,” said Seymour.
“The seeds of innovation are sown, and it’s officially the season for growth. The Minister for Food Safety and the Minister for the Environment will take action on these changes to streamline the product approval pathway. This means farmers and growers can utilise newer and better products faster.”
Joint Ministers will be responsible for progressing an Omnibus Bill to provide legislative support and accelerate improvements.
Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds added that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been and will continue to work on improving the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) system.
She has set a 10 percent reduction target for the HSNO queue in 2025/2026 and will set a more ambitious target in the next three months now that additional staff have been appointed for this work through reprioritisation of funding.
Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard has also directed the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to improve the assessment processes for Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM).
He said he wanted a 20 percent queue reduction for ACVM products compared to the queues in October 2024 by the end of June 2025.
“In a high-cost economy, regulation isn’t neutral. It’s a tax on growth. Every completed review makes it easier to do business, access services, and innovate in New Zealand. The Hairdressers and Barbers Sector Review is another example of what smarter regulation looks like in action,” added Seymour.
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