WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/161/Add.1
2 August 2002
(02-4289)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
The following communication, dated 1 August 2002, has been received from New Zealand.
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Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetic ally Modified Organisms) Amendment Act 2002
In December 2001 New Zealand notified proposed legislation to restrict, until 29 October 2003,
consideration and approval by the Environmental Risk Management Authority of applications for the
release of GM organisms (with some exceptions) into the environment (G/SPS/N/NZL/161 of
11 December and G/TBT/N/NZL/3 of  12 December).  This legislation ("Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms) Amendment Act 2002") has now been enacted and
has entered into force.
The restricted period covers applications to release GM organisms into the environment only.
There are three types of exemptions to the restricted period:  (1) medicines that are or contain live GM
organisms approved for human use under the Medicine s Act 1981;  (2) veterinary medicines that are or
contain live GM organisms approved under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act1997;  and (3) GM organisms approved under the em ergency provisions in the Hazardous Substances
and New Organisms Act 1996.  The restricted pe riod does not affect processed GM foods and
ingredients, which are permitted after safety assessment and approval by the Australia and New Zealand
Food Regulation Ministerial Council.  GM organisms can also be imported or developed in
New Zealand for the purpose of laboratory work, and also for contained field tests.
The notified document is available on the internet at:
http://rangi.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpacts/public/text/2002/an/013.html
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