GENE TECHNOLOGY BILL
An Introduction
Gene Technology Bill
Background: In December 2024, the NZ Government proposed a fast track bill to radically alter New Zealand’s GE GMO Free status.
Why Is the Methane Science Accord involved?
Many of the proposed Gene Editing Technologies are being advocated to reduce methane, these are novel, untested technologies with unknown risks to animals, ecosystems, indigenous biodiversity and trade.
Animal Experiments
WHEN DID FARMERS ASK FOR THIS?
GMO FOR PEST CONTROL.
What does that really look like?
What will it cost?
What are the risks
Article: Why the Indecent Haste, Prime Minister
by Owen Jennings
-Former National President of Federated Farmers.
-Former Member of Parliament for ACT Party.
-Co-founder of Queen Elizabeth ll National Trust
.. this is the most important decision made in agricultural circles in decades, maybe ever. Such a momentous decision involving such complex and fraught science where there are vested interests that need exposure and where there are significant reservations stated by industry, by consumer groups, by scientists who have an in-depth understanding of the issue is ringing loud alarm bells.
Letter: Request the Gene Technology Bill be referred to the Primary Production Committee
NZ farmers are one, if not the only, farmers in the developed world that do not receive government subsidies, as such they are highly sensitive to market demand. While GMO GE farming in the United States is heavily government subsidised.
GMO GE is a lower value product, on average reducing crop value by 15-20% to non-GMO crops and 115%+ less than organic crops…NZ’s proposed Gene Technology Bill sets out no liability framework, no obligations to protect indigenous biodiversity, productive and speciality seeds, nor animal welfare. The bill appears to carve out liability- free framework for gene technologies. There appears no requirement to evaluate long tail risk, no obligations for disclosure and law appears to have been developed with only laboratory processes in mind.
Gene Technology Bill proceeded to Committee without a standard minimum economic or trade impact report.
Under Health Committee, no economic or trade impact is considered if GM is introduced. So OANZ commissioned an independent economic report if the Gene Technology Bill proceeds. Here a some notable data points for all farmers;
2001 study by PA Consultants estimated the loss to the dairy industry if NZ’s clean green image was tarnished would be as high as $214 million.
NZ, could be receiving a 59% higher price for primary exports (on average) because of the country’s brand.
Consumers trust NZ is GE-free creates a price premium for food and fibre exports of 24%, possibly more.
Lincoln University’s Agribusiness & Economics Research Unit; estimated value of different market perceptions for NZ exports.
Loss of ‘Pure NZ premium’ could translate to $20.3 Billion annually LOSS in food and fibre exports, at current market rates.
OANZ have made their economic impact report public, so we can all be informed;Download:
Potential costs of regulatory changes for Gene Technology Report
from the OANZ website→
NZIER report to OANZ Nov 2024Useful Articles +
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Concerned Farmers: The Risks of GMO Deregulation to NZ Farmers
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Newsroom: Radical genetech bill ignores global standards at Kiwi producers’ peril
by Simon Terry,
Read Article at Newsroom → -
Potential $20 billion Loss in Export Demand Threatens Rural Communities
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MASIPAG:Philippines Farmers to Aotearoa Farmers, NZ: Unite to Stop Dangerous GMO Deregulation!
…Our struggle for food sovereignty, farmers’ rights, & biodiversity is deeply connected to yours. We join you in opposing the Gene Technology Bill, which threatens to dismantle biosafety protections, override democratic decision-making + erode the rights of farmers, consumers, and Indigenous communities … The experience of the Philippines serves as a critical warning ...
Read Letter at MASIPAG → -
Scoop:Japanese Consumers Alarmed by NZ’s Plan to Deregulate Gene Editing: 'We Like Natural Food from NZ'
Read Letter →
Read Press Release on Scoop→
In 2023 NZ exports to Japan included: $450 million dairy, eggs, honey; $307 million fruit; $220 million meat.
Japanese organisations ALL require imported GE foods to be mandatorily labelled and want stricter, not easier rules. -
Farmers must be told the truth about GE ryegrass performance.
AgResearch $25 million GE rye grass trials; 2017-2022, found field trials results did NOT meet expected performance end points. Feeding trials had to be postponed; GE grass did not generate enough fodder … If released GE RYE GRASS cross contamination WILL affect performance of pure non-GE grass seed, once released it cannot be recalled!
Read Article + Reports at GE Free NZ → -
1News:Is food in NZ set to become cheaper and better or just less regulated?
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Newsroom: Splitting gene tech law could lessen economic risks to NZ
by Simon Terry
Read Article at Newsroom → -
Country: Why some of NZ’s biggest exporters are worried about the Gene Technology Bill
Are We Really Missing Out if NZ Remains GE Free
88% of the world’s countries grow NO GMO GE hectares
12% of the world’s countries grow GE GMO crops
Less than 4% of the world’s agricultural land is being cultivated with GM crops,
Less than 1% of the world’s farmers grow GM crops.
World total of GM agriculture is 189.8 million hectares. A total of 24 countries. The number of countries planting GMOs peaked in 2010, at 29 countries, declining since.
Sources: New World Map of Genetically Modified Organisms, 2019, John Paull + Benjamin D. Hennig Where in the world are GM crops and foods? :: CBAN.ca 2015 :: ISAAA 2018, ISAAA 2010 :: Royal Society.orgHow much of the world grows GE GMO?.
Jack Heinemann, PROFESSOR of GENETICs + MOLECULAR BIOLOGY; University of Canterbury
‘You can package gene editors as pesticides and spray them from airplanes onto fields, and they won’t distinguish between a plant, a cow, a microbe, or a fungus or a human being. Those chemistries don’t know the difference. They are able to carry these gene editing tools into the cells of anything ’..
It’s not that they may have had a history of eating a GMO, [your cows] may be in real time an actual GMO or contaminated with actual GMO’s. that are inseparable from them because of this unregulated use of the gene editors outside of the containment facility.’
What can you do?
Submissions opened on 18 Dec 2024 and closed on Feb 2025.
Oral submissions have been completed.
97% of Submissions were against the Gene Technology Bill outright.
The 3% that supported the Bill, many asked for significant reforms, including: Traceability, LiabilitySelect Committee Report DUE: 22 August 2025
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What to Include:
What you are concerned about.
Speak from a personal point of view
Describe what the GENE Technology Bill could mean for you, your family and your business.
Bullet points are best.
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Email Format
MPs - first name.last name@parliament.govt.nz
Ministers - initial of first name full last name@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Prime Minister -c.luxon@ministers.govt.nz
Deputy Prime Minister -W.Peters@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Steve Abel -Steve.Abel@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Damien O'Connor -damien.oconnor@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Jo Luxton -jo.luxton@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Mark Patterson - Mark.Patterson@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Shane Jones - Shane.Jones@parliament.govt.nz -
Go old school and FREEPOST to your Party Leaders, Local + Favourite MP’s at Parliament.
MP’s Name
Private Bag 18888,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington 6160Make sure to write FREEPOST in the top right hand corner.
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Stay up to date with progress of the Gene Technology Bill, Farmer specific issues and focused Rural Campaign against the Gene Technology Bill