Legislation to end a 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab will be in place by the end of 2025, the Government has announced.
The legislation will allow scientists to develop and test, in real-world settings, plants which have been edited with minor genetic changes similar to those found in nature.
It should also remove high administrative burdens for experiments undertaken in containment, improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness of research.
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says legislation ending the ban and implementing a dedicated regulator to oversee applications to use gene technology will be introduced to Parliament by the end of the year.
“This is a major milestone in modernising gene technology laws to enable us to improve health outcomes, adapt to climate change, deliver massive economic gains and improve the lives of New Zealanders,” Collins says.
“New Zealand has lagged behind countries, including Australia, England, Canada and many European nations in allowing the use of this technology for the benefit of their people, and their economies.
“New Zealand’s biotech sector, of which gene technology is a part, generated $2.7 billion in revenue in 2020.
“The changes we’re announcing will allow researchers and companies to further develop and commercialise their innovative products. Importantly it will help New Zealanders to better access treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy, which has been clinically proven to effectively treat some cancers. It can also help our farmers and growers mitigate emissions and increase productivity, all of which benefits our economy,” Collins says.
She notes that restrictive rules and time-consuming processes have made research outside the lab almost impossible, resulting in New Zealand falling behind.
These changes will bring New Zealand up to global best practice and ensure we can capitalise on the benefits, she adds.
Plant & Food Research chief scientist, Professor Richard Newcomb says New Zealand generates a lot of wealth by sustainably growing healthy food, shared with consumers around the world.
He says these new regulations will allow scientists to develop new plant varieties so the agrifood sector can adapt at the speed required to meet fast-moving challenges, such as climate change, and remain competitive on the global market,
“Regulations around gene technologies, particularly with the advent of high precision technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9, are changing around the world.
“Researchers and food producers overseas are using these new technologies to develop foods that will directly compete with those from NZ, and may have more of the characteristics that consumers want. By changing our regulations, our sectors can compete on a level playing field; with a wider range of technologies on the table, they will be better placed to be able to make choices that are good for NZ as well as the world.”
