Biotech industry calls for government to make regulatory reforms

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BioTechNZ executive director Zahra Champion says most other countries are already using biotechnology in many ways, while New Zealand is just beginning to talk about it.
Photo: Supplied

The biotech industry says the next government must give the sector some urgent attention with a focus on regulatory reform to make up for lost ground.

“We face huge barriers in biotech which is such a shame,” BioTechNZ executive director Zahra Champion said.

“The rest of the world is moving in defining new technologies with updated regulations. But right now, here in New Zealand, it feels like we have two hands tied behind our backs. “

She said it had been more than a decade since the sector was given serious attention by government.

“Back in the early 2000s, biotech was seen as one of three sectors to lift New Zealand’s international competitiveness and a 10-year vision, the Biotechnology Taskforce, was implemented with bold recommendations,” Champion said.

“But unfortunately, there was a lack of understanding of the investment and long lead times that biotech needed to thrive, and a significant number of people felt the sector overpromised and under delivered.”

She said it could take 15 to 20 years for scientific breakthroughs to be deemed successful.

“It’s not all about focusing on bringing in new regulations, but making our current ones easier to use,” she said.

Among the changes would be easing limits on therapeutic applications, rules around medicinal cannabis and genetically modified organisms (GMO).

“We have developed some incredible innovations in the research and development space – especially in the (agritech) research sector – but because of our legislation we cannot use them in the commercial setting, so many of those trials have had to be done overseas,” Champion said.

Most other countries were already using biotechnology in many ways, while New Zealand was just beginning to talk about it, she said.

“BioTechNZ has made significant gains for the sector, however, there’s only so much we can do without the government seeing the value in biotech, and supporting it. And the time is now.”

Earlier this year, the National Party said it will oversee a rethink on the restrictions on genetic modification if it leads the next government.