23/06/2026 GMO Release With No Public Notification: Unacceptable

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill (HSNOA) has closed for submissions to The Primary Production select Committee who are hearing submissions.[1] 

The HSNO Amendment Bill has a series of changes which have major implications for New Zealand's GE-Free export advantage and primary production. 

New permissiveness and reliance on discretion are a threat to the integrity of the environment and agricultural system. The amendments would allow the open release of genetically modified/gene edited/ and AI (GE) organisms into the environment without public awareness or consultation.

"Hidden in the web of changes removes public notification," said Claire Bleakley,  GE-Free NZ president.

"It is unacceptable to make decisions on outdoor releases discretionary. There are major implications for New Zealand's GE-Free export advantage and primary production. That is why we have a petition to pause the HSNO Amendment Bill." [2]

National, ACT have supported the amendments and the Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety Andrew Hoggard is a strong supporter of genetic modification changes. [3]

The HSNO Amendment Bill has major implications for the farming sector's GE Free agricultural growth [4] 

Minister Todd McLay said at the Mystery Creek Field Days promoting New Zealand's agricultural sector had grown to $64 billion, surpassing by $2 billion the prediction by MPI. [4] [5]

This is all achieved on our GE-Free status.  Regulatory change loosening the approval process in the HSNO Amendment Bill threatens New Zealand’s economy and fragile environment.

The amendments undermine New Zealand's competitive advantage by fast-tracking harmonisation with overseas jurisdictions, like Australia, Canada, UK and USA.

GE contamination cannot be controlled once released. This has major implications for accountability, proof of financial fitness to pay compensation for harm, and requiring companies to have commercial insurance.

The funding and who is behind the use of new organisms must be transparent. There must be protection of the public and national interest against exploitation.

It has been shown that the US supported and trained scientists for pathogenic genetically engineered “gain of function” development in biotechnology labs in other countries. Many of the microbes were pathogenic and considered bio weapons.The cost was many USD $millions and was funded by the American taxpayer in secret. [6]

The changes to the HSNO Act mean that overseas pathogenic development could be done in secret in New Zealand.This would make us complicit in any biowarfare, and our population placed at risk of death should a GE pathogen escape from containment facilities.

We must ensure that transparency, accountability and public scrutiny is maintained with strong regulatory standards that allow the agricultural sector to preserve their GE Free advantage.