Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) told Parliament
yesterday that the proposed Gene Technology Bill will have
devastating impacts on the organic sector.
Delivering
its oral submission to the Health Select Committee, OANZ
urged the government to include stronger controls over the
environmental release of GMOs, warning that failure to do so
would jeopardise New Zealand’s billion-dollar organic
sector, harm the wider primary industry, and undermine the
country’s global reputation.
OANZ
also emphasised that the process has failed to address trade
and market access, economic and environmental risks given
the significant impact gene technologies will have on
organic and non-GMO farmers and their ability to access
international markets, particularly if environmental release
is allowed.
OANZ’s position is no
field trials and no commercial release of
GMOs.
“Without these essential changes, the Bill
threatens New Zealand’s global reputation as a leader in
sustainable, GE-free food production, which all of New
Zealand currently enjoys. If passed in its current form, it
threatens farmers’ livelihoods, trade, and NZ’s global
reputation’’ says Scott Lawson, OANZ Board Member and
organic grower/exporter. ‘’If we don’t stop the
irreversible environmental release of GMOs, this Bill will
leave farmers, business owners, and the market exposed to
serious risks.’’
Mai Chen, legal expert for OANZ,
reinforced the need for traceability and civil liability
provisions to ensure that we know where any contamination
causing harm is coming from and can ensure the right
polluter pays. “You can lift and shift traceability
requirements from the Organic Products and Production Act
2023 and civil liability provisions from the Hazardous
Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 to cover all GMOs and
gene technology in the Bill. If that is not done, then it
will be impossible for New Zealand exporters to meet import
requirements in other countries and also for the New Zealand
organic sector to retain its organic
certification.”
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New Zealand’s organic sector
contributes close to a billion dollars annually to the
economy, of which 60% is exported, and employs thousands of
people. The government’s own Regulatory Impact Statement
acknowledges that organic producers will bear the financial
burden of adapting to the risks posed by GMO
expansion.
“New Zealand has built its international
brand on being a clean, green, pure and GE-free food
producer,” says Scott Lawson. “This Bill, if not
amended, undermines that reputation and poses economic risks
that cannot be ignored.”
“We have a unique
opportunity to ensure this Bill supports a world-leading
organic sector. We must get this right—for our farmers,
economy, and future,” says
Lawson.
