Gene Technology Bill
The Gene Technology Bill will remove New Zealand's GE Free status.
All submitters must have their comments to the The Health Select Committee at close of submissions on the 17 February 2025 at 5pm.
They can be online or by email
Submissions are best suited to be in your own words.
Submissions don’t need to be complex – simple, clear statements make a difference:
- “No GE means No GE.”
- “Keep New Zealand GE-Free.”
- “Stop the Bill!”
Submission Tips:
- Write in your own words for maximum impact.
- Focus on issues that matter to you, such as environmental risks, economic concerns, or ethical standards.
- Ask to be heard if you are writing or making the submission online. It is important that everyone voice is heard.
Important issues that you might like to consider in a submission.
Why Oppose the Gene Technology Bill? This bill undermines protections for our environment, economy, and communities by:
- Ignoring the Protective Precautionary Principle: Risks to ecosystems and rural jobs are not protected.
- Excluding Treaty of Waitangi Principles: Disregards Māori rights and perspectives.
- Denying Consumer choice - no labelling, GE contamination through unprotected genetic drift.
- Shifting Liability: No requirement for GE users to manage risks. Genetic drift clean up is at the cost of the contaminated party.
- No Supply Chain Segregation: Farmers lose the ability to preserve the integrity of GE-free crops.
- No Labelling: Consumers and farmers won’t know be able to choose which products are GE-Free.
- No Ethical Standards: Overlooks animal welfare and ethical concerns.
- Ignoring Economic Risks: The value of New Zealand’s non-GMO exports is at stake.
- Ignoring Reputation Risks: Deregulation threatens New Zealand’s global reputation for clean, safe, GMO-free food, jeopardising a key competitive advantage.
Other Concerning Changes:
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Removes local councils’ ability to enforce GE-free regions or protections under the RMA.
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Deregulates GE techniques like gene editing and synthetic biology.
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Creates a biotech business-focused body, replacing the robust HSNO Act safeguards.
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Re Defines the term for genetically engineered organisms calling them "regulated organisms," removing transparency around GE.
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Allows unlabelled, untested GE seed, plants, microorganisms (SDN1, SDN2) into NZ. These products, once released, are irreversible and can spread through natural pollination.
Your Voice Matters!
Let’s work together to protect our GE-Free status and safeguard New Zealand’s future!
Make your submission here!
A comprehensive submission template can be found here
Background resources -
Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety School of Biological Sciences submission to Health Select Committee
New Zealand Legislation
Gene Technology Bill - Explanatory note -General policy statement
Assessments of the GT Bill
GE Free NZ press releases on the Gene Technology Bill
NZ's Rush To Push New Gene-Editing Laws – A Hidden Risk For Our Future? Prof. Jack Heinemann: Director Of Centre For Integrated Research In Biosafety.
NZ’s New Gene Tech Bill Under Fire, GE Free NZ’s Battle With Delayed OIA’'s: Legal Hub: With Katie Ashby-Koppens. Excellent interview (1-16mins)
Potential costs of regulatory changes for Gene Technology: Economic assessments of an MBIE proposal. (2024) New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) report estimates that the loss of NZ GE Free status in export demand would be between $10-$20 billion.
Why GE Crops Can Never Coexist With Non-GE Crops – With Evidence Of Contamination In Europe. Claire Bleakley: President Of GE Free NZ (2024)
GENETIC ENGINEERING PANEL NZ's Gene Technology Bill - Rushed Reform Or Reckless Revolution? The Fight For Food Transparency: Guy Hatchard, Jodie Bruning, & Jon Carapiet (2024).
The Govt's Removal Of Environmental Safeguards For GMO Trials And Judith Collins' Recent Comments Prof Jack Heinemann: Centre For Integrated Research In Biosafety Director (2024)
Keep Aotearoa NZ GE Free Ceres Organics submission guide.
OANZ GE Free Future Activation Toolkit.
Dr Guy Hatchard has made a video on YouTube "The Gene Technology Bill—What Kiwis Need To Know" and a template with more ideas for submitters on the submission template
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) information
Comparison between HSNO Act and proposed Gene Technology Bill
Science Media Centre -
Gene Technology Bill introduced to parliament – Expert Reaction - conflict of interest declared as many had a hand in writing the GT Bill as well as benefiting from biotechnology patents and funding.