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Royal
Commission on Genetic Modification
A Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was established by the Government on 8 May 2000 to look into and report on the issues surrounding genetic modification in New Zealand. It reported on 27 July 2001 - see Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.
The Government response
The major theme of the Royal Commission's report is “preserving opportunities”. The Commission thought it unwise for New Zealand to turn its back on the potential advantages on offer from genetic modification. But it recommended that New Zealand should proceed with caution on genetic modification, minimising and managing risks.
The Government supports the overall strategy of preserving opportunities suggested by the Royal Commission. The Government is concerned to protect our health and environment. It wants to take a precautionary approach to genetic modification and allow time for more research. See Government decisions on key recommendations.
Summary of government decisions
The following is a summary of government decisions on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. They are grouped in topic order:
1. Research and controls in containment
Recommendations:
- 6.1 to 6.5, 6.7, 6.11 (simplifying approval processes)
- 6.6, 6.9 (gaps in HSNO coverage)
- 6.10, 7.5, 7.6 (ethical & cultural issues)
2. Constraint on release and investigation into co-existence
Recommendations:
- 6.8, 13.1, 13.2 (constraint on release)
- 7.1 to 7.3, 7.7, 13.3, 13.4 (investigation of techniques for co-existence)
- 6.12 to 6.14, 7.4 (research)
3. Food and medical
Recommendations:
- 8.1 to 8.4 (food and consumer information)
- 9.3 (food/medicine interface issues)
- 9.4 to 9.6 (medicines approvals)
- 9.1, 9.2 (medical ethics)
4. Intellectual property
Recommendations:
- 10.1 to 10.7
5. Overarching and structural elements
Recommendations:
- 11.1, 12.1, 12.2, 14.1 to 14.4
Cabinet papers on genetic modification
The following cabinet papers are also available:
- Paper One - Royal Commission on genetic modification: Government response (PDF 403 KB)
- Paper Two - Research and controls in containment (PDF 284 KB)
- Paper Three - Release to the environment and coexistence (PDF 281 KB)
- Paper Four - Food and medical (PDF 375 KB)
- Paper Five - Intellectual Property (PDF 209 KB)
- Paper Six - Overarching and structural elements (PDF 202 KB)
