{"id":74375,"date":"2025-10-16T10:24:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T21:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=74375"},"modified":"2025-10-16T10:48:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T21:48:26","slug":"the-gene-tech-bill-too-risky-even-for-fonterra-and-nz-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/the-gene-tech-bill-too-risky-even-for-fonterra-and-nz-first\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gene Tech Bill – Too Risky Even for Fonterra and NZ First"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Luxon Government wants to remove GE safeguards and let GMOs free. Greenpeace isn\u2019t the only one who is ringing the alarm bells.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s not everyday you\u2019ll find Greenpeace, NZ First, and Fonterra on the same side of an issue. But that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happening with the Government\u2019s controversial Gene Tech Bill<\/strong> – a plan so radical that environmentalists, key exporters and coalition partners are all sounding the alarm<\/p>\n\n

And when unlikely allies line up like this, it\u2019s worth paying attention. So what\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n\n

The Gene Tech Bill, introduced by the National-led Government, proposes radically deregulating genetic engineering (GE)<\/strong> in Aotearoa.<\/p>\n\n

If passed, the Bill would allow genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be released into the environment – with no risk assessments, no oversight, no tracking<\/strong>, and no accountability<\/strong>. It would even allow GE experiments to be done outside of labs and with no expert supervision.<\/p>\n\n

This isn’t about medical research in controlled lab facilities – that’s already allowed under current law. This is about giving the green light to foreign venture capitalists<\/strong><\/a> to come and use Aotearoa as a testing ground for risky GE experiments <\/strong>that aren\u2019t allowed elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n

No going back<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The thing about releasing GMOs into the environment is that once it\u2019s done, there\u2019s no putting the genie back in the bottle<\/strong>. If a GMO spreads to neighbouring farms, native bush, or marine environments, the consequences could be permanent. It\u2019s not just about what\u2019s safe today – it\u2019s about what can\u2019t be undone tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n

And it\u2019s not just Greenpeace raising the alarm. AgResearch, in its submission, confirmed that if a gene-edited ryegrass were released, there\u2019d be \u201cno practical way\u201d to control its spread.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Both Fonterra and Dairy NZ raised concerns with the Bill and warned of risks to New Zealand\u2019s export economy. If our exports – like dairy or produce – are accidentally contaminated with unregulated GMO material, key trading partners could deny the shipment at their border. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

That could cost the economy billions, and damage our international reputation.<\/p>\n\n

What exactly does the Bill propose?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

If passed as is, this Bill would take Aotearoa from a GE-free nation to a place with one of the most lax regimes in the world. Let\u2019s break it down quickly:<\/p>\n\n