Gene Technology Bill
This bill creates a brand new system for regulating gene technology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in New Zealand. Right now the rules are very old and strict — almost no GMOs have been allowed outside labs since 1998. The bill sets up a new independent decision-maker called the Gene Technology Regulator, supported by expert and Māori advisory committees. It creates a tiered system where the level of oversight depends on the risk of the activity. It would replace the current rules under a 1996 law.
What this affects
Tap a topic to see how this bill touches it, and the parts of the text that show it.
The bill creates a faster pathway to allow medical treatments using gene technology that have already been approved overseas to be authorised in New Zealand more quickly.
Part 2, subpart 5 of the bill would require the Regulator to authorise the gene technology component of a medical activity within a certain period if it has already been approved by two recognised overseas gene technology regulators.
Medical activity would include an activity related to a regulated GMO that is intended to be administered to enable the use of a medical device, medicine, or veterinary medicine on humans or animals, and to enable the undertaking of clinical trials on humans.
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Health Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 16 February 2025.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.