Organic Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) is welcoming
today’s announcement from New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS)
that glyphosate residue limits in wheat, barley and oats
will remain at 0.1 mg/kg, with new restrictions on how
glyphosate can be used in crop production, specifically
banning pre-harvest use on grains for human
consumption.
Today’s decision proves that collective
action works. The 3,100 submissions opposing a 100-fold
increase in glyphosate residues represent thousands of New
Zealanders who refused to accept a future of higher chemical
residues in their food. Farmers, consumers, health
advocates, and environmental champions came together and
changed the course of food policy in this country. This is a
collective victory and a powerful reminder that citizens can
shape the kind of food system we want.
“This is a
win for New Zealanders and our food system”, says OANZ
Chair Noel Josephson.
“The public response sent a
clear message. New Zealanders want a food system that
prioritises health, integrity and environmental protection
over chemical convenience. We commend MPI for listening to
that message and recognising the shift already happening on
farms, away from reliance on glyphosate and towards more
sustainable, organic practices.”
The new NZFS
decision confirms the MRL for glyphosate will remain at 0.1
mg/kg. That glyphosate will no longer be permitted for
pre-harvest use on wheat, barley or oats grown for human
consumption, a move that OANZ says brings New Zealand in
line with its “clean, green” image and supports market
confidence in local and export food
products.
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Josephson says the result validates years of
effort by the organic sector and its allies to raise
awareness about chemical residues and the risks they pose to
both consumers and soil health.
“This outcome shows
the power of collective action. Farmers, organic producers,
and consumers all stood together, and it worked. The next
step is continuing to invest in organic and regenerative
systems that eliminate the need for these
chemicals.”
For New Zealand’s organic sector, this
decision protects market access and certification integrity.
Organic standards prohibit the use of glyphosate entirely,
but contamination from conventional farming practices,
particularly pre-harvest spraying, has been an ongoing
concern. By banning pre-harvest applications, NZFS has
reduced the risk of drift and residue contamination that
threaten organic certification and access to premium export
markets, where zero tolerance for glyphosate is increasingly
the norm.
OANZ thanked the thousands of New Zealanders
who made submissions, signed petitions, and supported
campaigns opposing the proposed increase, saying this
decision strengthens trust in the nation’s food standards
and supports export
integrity.
