Genetically modified seeds and nursery stock

What is genetic modification?

Section 2 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 defines genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as any organism in which any of the genes or other genetic material:

have been modified by in vitro techniques, or
are inherited or otherwise derived from any other genes or genetic material that has been modified by in vitro techniques.

"In vitro techniques" refers to using test tubes, cell culture plate or other methods outside a living organism.

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 – NZ Legislation website

No GM seeds or nursery stock can enter NZ

It is illegal to import GM (genetically modified) seeds and nursery stock into New Zealand without approval from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). GMOs are classed as new organisms under the HSNO Act.

MPI is responsible for enforcing the HSNO Act at the border, through the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Consignments of specific seed and nursery stock species must be tested for the presence of genetically modified seeds at one of our approved laboratories before being imported. If the import health standard (IHS) says your species must be tested, then you need to arrange to have this done before your imported seeds or nursery stock arrive in New Zealand. The testing certification must accompany your consignment.

Download the Seeds for sowing import health standard [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Download the Nursery stock import health standard [PDF, 3.6 MB]

Species that require a non-GM declaration

When specified by the IHS, a declaration signed by the exporter and importer must accompany the consignment declaring that it doesn't contain GM material.

This is a requirement for the following species.

Seeds for sowing

Arabidopsis thaliana (wall cress) – unless importing with an HSNO approval under option of 2.8.1 of the IHS
Cucurbita pepo (squash) – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration
Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed/linseed) – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration
Petunia spp. – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration

Nursery stock

Solanum tuberosum (potato)
Petunia spp. – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration

Species that require GM testing

Seeds for sowing

Brassica napus var. oleifera (oilseed rape/canola)
Glycine max (soybean)
Medicago sativa (lucerne/alfalfa)
Zea mays (sweet corn and maize)
Cucurbita pepo (squash) – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration
Gossypium hirsutum (cotton)
Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed/linseed) – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration
Petunia spp. – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration

Nursery stock

Petunia spp. – option of GM testing or providing a non-GM declaration

Laboratories for GMO testing

The laboratories in the following table are approved by MPI to test for GMOs.

Laboratory	Contact details	Comments
BVAQ (formerly known as DTS Food Assurance Laboratories)	5/352 Macaulay Road Kensington Melbourne, Australia Phone: +61 3 8371 7600 Email: sales.au@bvaq.au
Eurofins GeneScan	2219 Lakeshore Drive Suite 400 New Orleans, LA 70122, USA Phone: +1 504 297 4330 Email: GMO@EurofinsUS.com
EUROFINS BIOLOGIE MOLECULAIRE FRANCE (formerly known as Eurofins Analytics France)	Rue Pierre Adolphe Bobierre BP 42301 44323, Nantes, France Phone: +33 2 51 83 21 00 Fax: +33 2 51 83 21 11 Email: BioMolNantes@Eurofins.com	Currently unable to test Petunia either as seed or plants for planting
Intertek ScanBi Diagnostic AB	Elevenborgsvägen 2 23053 Alnarp, Sweden Phone: +46 40 69 28 001 Email: agritech.sweden@intertek.com

In addition to the above laboratory approvals, the laboratories in the following table are recognised by MPI to test for GMOs on Petunia species.

Laboratory	Contact details	Comments
Lifeprint GmbH	Industriestraße 12 D-89257 Illertissen Germany Phone: +49 7303 951 95 18 Fax: +49 7303 95195-55	Only Petunia nursery stock
PLANTON GmbH	Am Kiel-Kanal 44 D-24106 Kiel Germany Phone: +49 (0) 431 380150 Fax: +49 (0) 431 3801511	Only Petunia nursery stock
Eurofins GeneScan GmbH	Engesserstr. 4, D – 79108 Freiburg, Germany Phone: +49 761 5038 – 100 Fax: +49 761 5038 – 211 GeneScan@eurofins.com www.genescan.de	Petunia nursery stock and Petunia non-pelleted seeds
Eurofins BioDiagnostics, Inc.	507 Highland Drive River Falls, WI 54022, USA Phone: + 1 715-426-0246 info@eurofinsus.com www.biodiagnostics.net	Only Petunia nursery stock

Download the standards for approving laboratories for GMO testing [PDF, 83 KB]

Specific seed and nursery stock testing requirements

The protocol for testing for GM plant material outlines the precautions seed importers must take to ensure their imports don't contain GM material. Precautions may include:

buying seeds and nursery stock produced under a quality assurance system – such as field isolation
testing for GM presence throughout the production chain.

Importers must take reasonable steps to make sure their goods comply with the HSNO Act, the Seeds for sowing IHS, and the Nursery stock IHS. Not complying with these protocols may mean your consignment isn't cleared for entry and your goods will be reshipped or destroyed at your cost.

Download Protocol for testing for the presence of genetically modified plant material [PDF, 810 KB]