New Zealand to loosen gene editing regulation, make commercialization easier

13/8/2024 7:22

        The New Zealand government said on Tuesday that it would introduce new legislation to make it easier for companies and researchers to develop and commercialize products using gene technologies such as gene editing.
        
        Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins said in a statement that rules and time-consuming processes have made research outside the lab almost impossible.
        
        "These changes will bring New Zealand up to global best practice and ensure we can capitalise on the benefits," she said.
        
        Current, regulations mean that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) cannot be released out of containment without going through a complex and vigorous process and it is difficult to meet the set standard. Furthermore, gene editing is considered the same as genetic modification even when it doesn't
        involve the introduction of foreign DNA.