Latest news with #HSNO
RNZ News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
More detail on gene tech regulations to come, as industry mulls opportunities
The Gene Technology Bill seeks to overhaul current law that restricts the use of gene technologies in New Zealand. Photo: 123RF The Gene Technology Bill was discussed at length at the second annual Plant Breeders' Forum in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Thursday, hosted by the New Zealand Plant Breeders and Research Association (NZPBRA). The bill sought to overhaul current legislation that restricted the use of gene technologies in New Zealand, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO) from 1996. The risks, opportunities and challenges of gene technologies were debated by hundreds during the select committee process, which drew 15,000 submissions. Many scientists said the effective near 30-year ban on the use of gene technologies like gene editing, transgenic breeding or other new breeding techniques used outside the laboratory held them back from progress, leaving them with the slower traditional breeding techniques. However critics - including conventional and organic farming and anti-genetic engineering (GE) movements - raised concerns about the co-existence of genetically-modified (GM) and non-GM crops on farms, market access, human and environmental health concerns from GM foods and via animal feed, and the controls and requirements for the use of these technologies outside the laboratory. Read more about the Gene Technology Bill: Biological chemist Professor Emily Parker chaired the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment's gene technology technical advisory group. Speaking at the Plant Breeders' Forum, she said there had been significant scientific and technological advances since 1996 when the HSNO Act first came into force, and the current regulatory system was seen as a "significant barrier" to getting approval for genetic technology projects. "Primary legislation which is what is before the House at the moment, is the scaffold" she said. "But it will be underpinned by secondary legislation. This is regulations, notices, standards, things that are issued under secondary legislation. "That has a lot of detail about exactly how different activities are managed and there's a lot of technical detail in that, but I know that there will be a lot of interest by this community in that secondary legislation." Parker said the regulations, that were expected in the fourth quarter of the year, would go out for full public consultation. "It sets up a stand-alone regulatory regime; it creates what we call an authorisation framework to manage the risks of gene tech and enable their safe use," Parker said. "And we have international obligations, such as we're signatories to the Cartagena Protocol that we need to make sure we manage within that legislation." In 2000, New Zealand signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, an international treaty which aimed to protect biological diversity and human health from the possible risks of importing or exporting living modified organism, including GMOs. Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard and his Australian counterparts have agreed to update the definitions for GM food in Australia and New Zealand. Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes Parker said the new approach was modelled very closely to Australia's Gene Technology Act (2002) that was now under its third review. She said requirements for the use of new breeding techniques like gene editing would be specified, and whether they would be notified or non-notified with the public, based on where they fell in risk categories. "What will not be regulated is some organisms and gene technologies can be exempted under the regulations and there will be a set of non-regulated organisms and technology." Parker said she was unable to answer questions asked by a GE-Free New Zealand spokesperson at the forum, if activities exempted from the regulations would be required to feature on a public register, cover liability, or feature on the label . Last month, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard and his Australian counterparts agreed to update the definitions for GM food in Australia and New Zealand, which saw food made with the addition of new or novel DNA no longer being required to state that on the food label. Parker said the public would be able to have their say on the upcoming details. "There will be a lot more opportunity to comment and to have feedback on how the scheme is being used, how this framework is going to be populated, and whether that appropriately manages to be suitable for human health and for the environment." The roll-out of the legislation, if it was accepted by Cabinet, will be a multi-government agency effort. The Ministry for Business and Innovation was the lead government agency, the Environmental Protection Authority will be the regulator, and the Ministry for Primary Industries will be the enforcer. The gene-editing technique CRISPR, was launched by the forestry institute Scion in May last year. Photo: 123RF One technique of interest that arose among many scientists at the event was gene-editing technique CRISPR, that forestry institute Scion launched in May last year. Geneticist Sai Arojju of the Radiata Pine Breeding Company - the only one in New Zealand - said CRISPR and RNA techniques were of interest to the industry - that started using genomic selection in 2022. "In terms of accelerated genetic gain, we feel like adopting new technologies is the way to go," he said at the forum. "Genomics is one example that I've shown you and the remote sensing is the other way that we can sort of accelerate those genetic gains in our breeding programme. "We are keeping an eye on the new technologies as well, for example, CRISPR, how does it fit into our breeding programme, and RNA is the other technology which can be used as a disease control, basically." However, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Board abandoned discussions around genetic engineering in forestry in 2023, and decided not to investigate GM trees. "The decision considered the different views in FSC's membership around the learning process, the division this brings to FSC as well as the potential risk to FSC's mission and reputation. The decision was made by consensus, with two board members expressing reservations about the process," it said in a statement in March 2023. Null segregants descended from genetically modified organisms (GMO) that were considered transgenes, but do not contain those modifications anymore, were no longer considered GMO. Jazz apples took around 15 years to come to market, using traditional breeding techniques cross-breeding Braeburn and Royal Gala cultivars. Photo: CC 1.0 BY-SA / Daderot Molecular biologist Dr Revel Drummond of Plant and Food Research - now the Bioeconomy Institute - said conventional breeding was done in multi-year stages for apples, which took a "a very long time". He said using null segregants could accelerate one stage of the breeding process, from around five years for apples, to just one. "A null segregant is simply something that used to be transgenic and no longer is, so we've taken the transgenic part out of the equation by crossing it away," he said. He said the method was useful, like a "trick" where instead of waiting four or five years for an apple through traditional breeding, it could be cut down to one year. "Now you could do a breeding cycle per year in a fruit tree," he said. "Annual breeding makes a lot of sense here." Jazz apples, for example, were considered one of New Zealand's relatively faster genetic developments taking around 15 years to come to market, using traditional breeding techniques cross-breeding Braeburn and Royal Gala cultivars. Forage breeding was a significant sector that contributed hugely to agricultural success, and had been developed in Aotearoa for the past century. Germplasm - or genetic resources such as seeds, tissues or DNA sequences - was described as "the lifeblood of our industry," by Dr Derek Woodfield, the now retired general manager at PGG Wrightson Seeds. Woodfield said ryegrass and associated endophytes made up around 60-70 percent of the overall forage breeding effort in New Zealand, driven by the need to increase livestock production. "Animals cannot compensate by eating more poor quality forage, they will just grow slower and so the aim of forage breeding is to have high quality forage and high amounts of it to drive animal performance." He said consolidation and rationalisation of the sector had concentrated breeding efforts, listing three of the four main forage breeders as internationally-owned. CropMark, the event sponsor, was the only one that remained New Zealand-owned, he said. "I think we have a huge risk in our forage industry from overseas ownership of our core breeding programmes," Woodfield said. "We are susceptible to overseas investors deciding we are not profitable enough or they're reducing their investment or changing the way in which we do it. "Now they'll only do that for sensible reasons, economic reasons, we hope. But you know we do have to work out what that means long-term for New Zealand." The Health Select Committee declined to comment on how the 15,000 Gene Technology Bill submissions were split in terms of support or opposition, ahead of the release of its report to Cabinet due on 22 August. The second and third reading of the bill was expected later this year, before the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator was tipped to go live in 2026. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Primary sector not impressed with government's horticultural product approval targets
Access to agricultural and horticultural products is managed under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisims (HSNO) Act. Photo: AFP/ Costfoto / NurPhoto Those in the primary sector say the government's new targets to reduce the queues to approve new agricultural and horticultural products don't go far enough. It follows a regulatory review which found the approval process for the agricultural and horticultural products, like pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, wasn't always allowing timely access to the products. Cabinet has agreed to all 16 of the recommendations from the regulatory review, including updating the Environmental Protection Authority's risk assessment models, reducing efficacy requirements for inhibitors to the minimum required to manage risks and introducing targets to reduce product queues. Access to the products is managed under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisims (HSNO) Act. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds said she had set a target to reduce the HSNO queue by 10 percent in 2025-26 and would set a more ambitious target once additional staff were appointed. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard said he wanted a 20 percent queue reduction for ACVM products by the end of June 2025, compared to October 2024. By the end of June 2026, he wanted to see queues reduce by a further 30 percent. The ministers would be responsible for an Omnibus Bill to accelerate the improvements. However, Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) chief executive Dr Liz Shackleton said the targets to reduce product queues seemed unlikely to deliver the rapid change that industry needed. "While it's positive that Ministers have answered industry's calls to set targets that hold regulators to account, hitting the bullseye requires a bold focus on the targets that matter most. "Industry keenly await the more ambitious target signalled by the Minister for Environment and hope it's not too little too late." Dr Shackleton said the priority should be parent products with new active ingredients in the queue already, rather than just increasing approvals for generic products. She said this would allow farmers and growers to rotate products to manage resistance, improve environmental outcomes and phase out older chemistry. Many of the products - which have been in the queue for years - are already being used by countries like Australia, Canada and the United States, she said. "Let's look at blackspot. It's in the queue, there's a solution for that. Apple growers it's their number one barrier to trade and it's been sitting under assessment for almost four years." Dr Shackleton feared manufacturers of agricultural and horticultural products would exit the New Zealand market unless more bold action was taken. ""The companies that make the new stuff are talking about pulling out of New Zealand. "New Zealand had once been seen as a desirable place to get early registration. That's no longer the case, the global view is we're now well behind." Dr Shackleton said time was running out. The Environmental Protection Authority says the proposed rule changes for hazardous substances would give the industry a clearer path for making use of new chemicals in New Zealand. Photo: supplied Horticulture New Zealand's general manager of strategy and policy Michelle Sands also felt the targets to reduce product queues didn't go far enough and would not make a difference to the existing backlog. "We have a situation in New Zealand where other countries have access to newer, softer innovative actives and in New Zealand our process is very slow and so that means we don't have access to those sort of things. "What that means is that we're actually missing out on things that might have lesser impacts on the environment, on human health." Sands was also worried that manufacturers would stop providing agricultural and horticultural products to the New Zealand market because of the delayed approvals process. Chief executive of the New Zealand Veterinary Association Dr Kevin Bryant said under the current system New Zealand was "missing out". He said the proposed changes were a good start but more was needed to get products into the vet clinics faster. "For vets on the ground treating animals and coming at it from an animal welfare perspective, we know there are products available in Australia that are not available here that are needed. "The issue we have is why can we not have a process that enables products that have been approved in other jurisdictions which New Zealand trusts, that they cannot be actually fast-tracked in terms of registration in New Zealand." Dr Bryant said there was a balance to be achieved between speed and effectiveness, which was why he wanted to see the ACVM better resourced. "We want to see government prioritising resourcing for ACVM so that new medicines and vaccines can be approved and in our vet clinics as fast as possible." The Environmental Protection Authority said the proposed changes to the rules for hazardous substances would give the industry a clearer path for making use of new chemicals in New Zealand. It said the proposed changes would make it easier for applicants to apply in cases where chemicals had already been used safely in other countries, allow the temporary use of some new products and improve transparency around application timeframes and processes. Meanwhile the Environmental Law Initiative's senior legal advisor Tess Upperton said the EPA's focus must remain on rigorously assessing the possible risks to human and ecosystem health, especially as hazardous substance approvals did not expire. She said decisions must be "carefully made" and the EPA shouldn't become too focused on having to "shorten the queue" of products waiting for assessment which may divert the EPA from its core environmental obligations. Upperton agreed with the review that the EPA was "significantly under-funded". "The best way to streamline applications would be for the EPA to be fully funded to perform as an effective regulator through recovery of the costs of its HSNO (Hazardous Substances and New Organisms ACT) functions from applicants. As it stands, the public is subsidising private interests through majority Crown funding of these EPA functions." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Farmers And Growers To Reap Rewards
Press Release – New Zealand Government Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds says the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been and will continue to work on improving the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) system. Minister for Regulation Hon Penny Simmonds Minister for the Environment Hon Andrew Hoggard Minister for Food Safety Farmers and growers will have faster access to new agriculture and horticulture products because innovation drives success, says Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. 'The changes announced today show the power of a sector review,' Mr Seymour says. 'Agriculture and horticulture products are integral to the largest sector of New Zealand's tradeable economy, the primary sector. It's important to ensure regulatory settings give the sector the best chance at success. Cabinet accepted all of the Ministry for Regulation's 16 recommendations 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,' Mr Seymour says. '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 action 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 says the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been and will continue to work on improving the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) system. 'I have set a 10% 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,' Ms Simmonds says. 'I have directed the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to improve Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) assessment processes', Mr Hoggard says. 'I want a 20% queue reduction for ACVM products compared to the queues in October 2024, by the end of June 2025. By the end of June 2026 I want to see queues reduce by a further 30%.' '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,' Mr Seymour says.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Farmers And Growers To Reap Rewards
Press Release – New Zealand Government Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds says the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been and will continue to work on improving the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) system. Minister for Regulation Hon Penny Simmonds Minister for the Environment Hon Andrew Hoggard Minister for Food Safety Farmers and growers will have faster access to new agriculture and horticulture products because innovation drives success, says Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. 'The changes announced today show the power of a sector review,' Mr Seymour says. 'Agriculture and horticulture products are integral to the largest sector of New Zealand's tradeable economy, the primary sector. It's important to ensure regulatory settings give the sector the best chance at success. Cabinet accepted all of the Ministry for Regulation's 16 recommendations 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,' Mr Seymour says. '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 action 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 says the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been and will continue to work on improving the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) system. 'I have set a 10% 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,' Ms Simmonds says. 'I have directed the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to improve Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) assessment processes', Mr Hoggard says. 'I want a 20% queue reduction for ACVM products compared to the queues in October 2024, by the end of June 2025. By the end of June 2026 I want to see queues reduce by a further 30%.' '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,' Mr Seymour says.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Farmers And Growers To Reap Rewards
Hon David Seymour Minister for Regulation Hon Penny Simmonds Minister for the Environment Hon Andrew Hoggard Minister for Food Safety Farmers and growers will have faster access to new agriculture and horticulture products because innovation drives success, says Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. 'The changes announced today show the power of a sector review,' Mr Seymour says. 'Agriculture and horticulture products are integral to the largest sector of New Zealand's tradeable economy, the primary sector. It's important to ensure regulatory settings give the sector the best chance at success. Cabinet accepted all of the Ministry for Regulation's 16 recommendations 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,' Mr Seymour says. '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 action 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 says the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been and will continue to work on improving the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) system. 'I have set a 10% 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,' Ms Simmonds says. 'I have directed the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to improve Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) assessment processes', Mr Hoggard says. 'I want a 20% queue reduction for ACVM products compared to the queues in October 2024, by the end of June 2025. By the end of June 2026 I want to see queues reduce by a further 30%.' '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,' Mr Seymour says.
