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Ongoing management of conditionally released genetically modified organisms

On 14 July 2008 the government’s Cabinet Business Committee considered a series of proposals aimed at providing a greater level of transparency and increased accountability in the management of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Cabinet paper with proposals for ongoing Management of Genetic Modification in New Zealand (also available in PDF, 128 KB)
Cabinet Business Committee Minute CBC Min (08) 20/24 (CBC Min also available in PDF, 32 KB) (Note that this Cabinet paper is an official record of the decisions made by the Committee).
Cabinet Minute CAB Min (08) 28/1C: Management of Genetic Modification in New Zealand (CAB Min also available in PDF, 32 KB) (Note that this Cabinet paper is an official record of the decisions made by the Cabinet).

The Minister for the Environment has asked the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA New Zealand) to consult with the public on a proposal to develop new regulations under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. The proposed new regulations would be designed to prescribe requirements for segregation and traceability schemes. ERMA New Zealand would have particular regard to these schemes when deciding what controls it might impose on applications to conditionally release a GMO, particularly any genetically modified crop.

For more information on this consultation go to the ERMA New Zealand website.

Information regulations for GM conditional release applications

On 6 October 2008, following approval by Cabinet, the Governor General signed new regulations under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. The regulations address, in part, Cabinet’s July 2008 decisions relating to the future management of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms - Information Requirements for Segregation and Tracing) Regulations 2008 come into effect on 6 November 2008.

The regulations prescribe information that applicants must provide with any application for conditional release of a GMO, submitted to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) under section 38A of the HSNO Act (ie release with controls).

The regulations mean that anyone applying to conditionally release a GMO must provide ERMA with information about any specific measures the applicant intends to take to keep the GMO separate from other organisms and to trace the GMO.

If the applicant does not intend to take such measures, the application must include reasons why such measures are not considered necessary or appropriate.

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms - Information Requirements for Segregation and Tracing) Regulations 2008 will be published shortly and will be available at www.legislation.govt.nz.

For more information on the background to the regulations contact the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), phone (04) 439-7400 or email info@mfe.govt.nz, or see:

Cabinet paper and Regulatory Impact Statement for new regulations (Cabinet paper and regulatory impact statement also available in PDF, 135 KB)
Cabinet Business Committee Minute CBC Min (08) 26/9 (CBC Min also available in PDF, 23 KB) (Note that this Cabinet paper is an official record of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee).

For more information on ERMA’s process for assessing conditional release applications and how the information required under the regulations will inform ERMA’s decision-making, contact the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), phone (04) 916-2426 or email info@ermanz.govt.nz.

Last updated: 10 October 2008