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New category for release of new organisms

The amended Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 allows for a new category for the release of new organisms, including genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), into New Zealand.

The new category is called “conditional release” and is an intermediate stage between new organisms in fully-contained conditions and organisms released without any conditions.

The new category of conditional release allows the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to approve the release of new organisms, but only with conditions or controls.

As an example of the conditions that could be imposed, an applicant might want to grow GM carrots that, when processed into possum bait, produce infertility in possums. ERMA could impose controls restricting the location and size of the crop and order that the carrots must not be allowed to flower so that there was no chance of the GM carrot pollen being carried to a non-GM carrot crop. This would allow applicants to grow the GM carrots to help reduce the possum population, while ensuring that they did not enter the human food supply.

In considering a new organism for conditional release, ERMA looks at it in the context of a set of strict standards designed to protect New Zealand’s environment, biodiversity and human health.

ERMA also has the power to review its conditional release approvals where new information or new technologies justify a change in the conditions of that approval.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will be the enforcement agency responsible for ensuring the controls imposed by ERMA when it grants approval are being carried out. The Ministry already has an inspection and enforcement role in the area of new organisms. MAF Biosecurity is responsible for protecting New Zealand from unwanted pests and harmful organisms under the Biosecurity Act and for managing risks to plant and animal health and animal welfare. MAF inspectors also inspect laboratories doing GM work to ensure they are secure and comply with controls imposed by ERMA.

Last updated: 17 September 2007