The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill
(HSNOA) has closed for submissions to The Primary Production
select Committee who are hearing submissions.[1]
The
HSNO Amendment Bill has a series of changes which have major
implications for New Zealand’s GE-Free export advantage and
primary production.
New permissiveness and reliance on
discretion are a threat to the integrity of the environment
and agricultural system. The amendments would allow the open
release of genetically modified/gene edited/ and AI (GE)
organisms into the environment without public awareness or
consultation.
“Hidden in the web of changes removes
public notification,” said Claire Bleakley, GE-Free NZ
president.
“It is unacceptable to make decisions on
outdoor releases discretionary. There are major implications
for New Zealand’s GE-Free export advantage and primary
production. That is why we have a petition to pause the HSNO
Amendment Bill.” [2]
National, ACT have supported the
amendments and the Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety
Andrew Hoggard is a strong supporter of genetic modification
changes. [3]
The HSNO Amendment Bill has major
implications for the farming sector’s GE Free agricultural
growth [4]
Minister Todd McLay said at the Mystery
Creek Field Days promoting New Zealand’s agricultural sector
had grown to $64 billion, surpassing by $2 billion the
prediction by MPI. [4] [5]
This is all achieved on our
GE-Free status. Regulatory change loosening the approval
process in the HSNO Amendment Bill threatens New Zealand’s
economy and fragile environment.
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The amendments
undermine New Zealand’s competitive advantage by
fast-tracking harmonisation with overseas jurisdictions,
like Australia, Canada, UK and USA.
GE contamination
cannot be controlled once released. This has major
implications for accountability, proof of financial fitness
to pay compensation for harm, and requiring companies to
have commercial insurance.
The funding and who is
behind the use of new organisms must be transparent. There
must be protection of the public and national interest
against exploitation.
It has been shown that the US
supported and trained scientists for pathogenic genetically
engineered “gain of function” development in
biotechnology labs in other countries. Many of the microbes
were pathogenic and considered bio weapons. The cost was
many USD $millions and was funded by the American taxpayer
in secret. [6]
The changes to the HSNO Act mean that
overseas pathogenic development could be done in secret in
New Zealand. This would make us complicit in any biowarfare,
and our population placed at risk of death should a GE
pathogen escape from containment facilities.
We must
ensure that transparency, accountability and public scrutiny
is maintained with strong regulatory standards that allow
the agricultural sector to preserve their GE Free
advantage.
References:
[1]
https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/scl/primary-production/tab/mp#filterformsearchtarget
[2]
https://petitions.parliament.nz/30945f77-8479-452e-bef4-08deca8724c5?lang=en
[3]
https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/politics/minister-green-lights-gm-definitions-for-food/
[4]
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/597875/new-zealand-s-agricultural-exports-set-to-climb-to-a-record-64-point-3-billion
[5]
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/70984-Situation-and-Outlook-for-Primary-Industries-SOPI-December-2025
[6]
https://www.military.com/gabbard-releases-biolab-records-years-after-disinformation-accusations
