What genetically modified foods are sold in NZ?
Some foods sold in New Zealand may contain genetically modified (GM) DNA or protein. Foods derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) can be sold here only if the GMO has been assessed for safety by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and approved by the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (ANZFRMC). For more details on Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s assessment of the safety of any GM food, see the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website. The GM crops which have been approved as safe for use in food in New Zealand are given here.
To date no GM crops are grown commercially in New Zealand. Any GM food that is imported into New Zealand and is a viable organism would require an approval under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO Act). For information on the processes for assessing applications for GM organisms in New Zealand, see the Environmental Protection Authority website.
Check the label
GM foods sold in New Zealand must be labelled ‘genetically modified’ if they contain DNA or protein from a GM source or they have altered characteristics compared to their non-GM counterpart (such as a changed fatty acid profile).
For more detail on the requirements for labelling of GM food in New Zealand see the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website.
Prepared food
There are no GM labelling requirements for foods prepared and sold from food premises and vending vehicles, including restaurants, cafés, take away outlets, caterers or self-catering institutions. This is the same as most other food-labelling requirements. If you want to know whether foods sold in these places are genetically modified you can ask.
Last updated: 8 December 2011
