The Gene Technology Bill was discussed at length at the second annual Plant Breeders’ Forum in Ōtautahi Christchurch …, hosted by the New Zealand Plant Breeders and Research Association (NZPBRA).

The bill sought to overhaul current legislation that restricted the use of gene technologies in New Zealand, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO) from 1996.

…

Many scientists said the effective near 30-year ban on the use of gene technologies like gene editing, transgenic breeding or other new breeding techniques used outside the laboratory held them back from progress, leaving them with the slower traditional breeding techniques.

However critics – including conventional and organic farming and anti-genetic engineering (GE) movements – raised concerns about the co-existence of genetically-modified (GM) and non-GM crops on farms, market access, human and environmental health concerns ….

…

The roll-out of the legislation, if it was accepted by Cabinet, will be a multi-government agency effort.

The Ministry for Business and Innovation was the lead government agency, the Environmental Protection Authority will be the regulator, and the Ministry for Primary Industries will be the enforcer.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here