EU’s imminent embrace of gene-edited crops threatens to leave New Zealand a science laggard

The European Union is poised to make changes to allow gene editing technology in mid-May that, if passed, would put New Zealand out of step with its major trading partners on the technology’s use, says a leading researcher.

Late last year the EU moved to mandate a new framework for the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs), with a breadth that has taken many in the scientific community by surprise.

The proposal, which still must be formally ratified, is to move away from the trade bloc’s previously strict blanket ban on the use of gene editing to a more selective science-based approach, albeit with some political considerations

The unexpected progress in the EU’s regulations come as NZ’s own genetic technology Bill remains stalled in Parliament, thanks to NZ First unexpectedly withholding its support for the Bill, subject to major changes.

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“If we don’t change our own GE laws, we won’t be able to trade freely under the [free trade agreement]. We are doing ourselves a disservice,” [said Dr. Revel Drummond, a plant and food molecular biologist.]

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