The Labour Party has declared it shares concerns that the Gene Technology Bill is moving too fast.

“Fonterra, Beef + Lamb and Dairy NZ have all raised concerns about the Bill’s process, but they have fallen on deaf ears,” Labour agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton said.

She noted that Government members of the select committee recently blocked a call from these groups – as well as the New Zealand Meat Industry Association and the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand – for an extension to public consultation.

The bill is being considered by Parliament’s Health Committee.

Its purpose is to enable the safe use of gene technology and regulated organisms in New Zealand.

The intention is to establish a new regulatory regime for gene technology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The Bill seeks to provide for—

• risk-proportionate regulation:
• efficient application and decision-making processes:
• a flexible legislative framework able to accommodate future technological and policy developments without frequent amendment:
• international alignment, including with key trading partners, to facilitate trade and improve access to new technologies:
• ways to recognise and give effect to the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi.

Jo Luxton said:

“New Zealand trades on its reputation of being clean and green, and public sentiment in the past has not been in favour of increasing genetic engineering, particularly for crops.

“While Labour supports the creation of new technologies to make farming greener and more efficient, rushing this process could prove detrimental.

“The Government must slow down and listen to farmers.”

Labour trade spokesperson Damien O’Connor said farmers had rightly raised concerns about the consultation process and speed at which this Bill is progressing.

“Rushing it could put New Zealand’s reputation at risk,” he said.

“I’m yet to see any comprehensive cost-benefit analysis for this Bill, and I am concerned that the Government hasn’t specifically investigated what it could mean for trade. I call on them to do this work and properly hear from the public before progressing it any further,” Damien O’Connor said.

Federated Farmers says it supports the reform of gene technology legislation, recognising that it presents “an opportunity for New Zealand to cautiously and sensibly explore these tools”.

It says the reform must ensure that farmers have the right to choose, by providing regulatory settings that permit farmers to choose not to adopt these technologies.

“While the majority of farmers support this reform, there are a wide range of nuanced views across the industry, including farmers who are apprehensive of such a reform.”

As an organisation that represents the breadth of farming in New Zealand, Federated Farmers also supports those farmers, respecting their autonomy and the right to choose how they farm in the context of their own business.

It recommends some minor changes to help clarify and refine the Bill to better meet the intent and the purpose of the legislation, as well as considerations for development of the supporting regulatory system.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment has produced an overview of the legislation that can be found here.

Sources: Labour Party and MBIE