February 2025
Committee Secretariat
Health Committee
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Restaurant Association of New Zealand submission on the Gene Technology Bill
The Restaurant Association of New Zealand (the Restaurant Association) welcomes the opportunity to submit on the Gene Technology Bill.
As the peak representative body for businesses where food is the hero of their operations, we are particularly concerned by the risks this bill poses to the government’s stated objective of growing the value of tourism, particularly as it relates to food tourism, and the impact this bill will have on consumer choice.
Growing the value of food tourism
Culinary tourism is a vital component of the tourism experience, and ranks alongside climate and scenery in importance to tourists. As such, highlighting food and beverage tourism as part of our marketing of New Zealand as an international visitor destination of choice is one of the Restaurant Association’s top priorities for the government.
We have a global “clean and green” reputation, which includes our culinary reputation for being a country with fresh, natural produce. Protecting and enhancing this reputation is key to growing the value of our food and beverage tourism offering as a country — and while enabling Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) may make it easier to grow and farm food at scale, the Restaurant Association believes that our competitive advantage in the world is dependent on the quality of our produce, which is put at risk by a focus on quantity without the necessary protections.
RA recommendation: Hold companies using GE liable for contamination and require commercial insurance.
RA recommendation: Amend the Bill to prohibit release of all GE micro-organisms and viruses which can’t be controlled.
Labelling requirements to support consumer choice
The Restaurant Association is concerned by the lack of tracing and labelling requirements around genetically engineered or modified organisms. All consumers should be able to trust that the food they purchase and consume is what it says on the shelf, and if they are interested in knowing how it is made or what a processed item of food includes, that they can identify such information by looking at the label on those products.
Those consumers are not just limited to an individual shopping at a supermarket: it includes restaurateurs purchasing ingredients that meet the ethos of their business, as well as farmers purchasing feed for their livestock. This cannot be achieved without a rigorous tracing and labelling system that ensures consumers are provided with the necessary information to make informed decisions about their food.
RA recommendation: Include a requirement to trace all gene edited food in the bill.
RA recommendation: Develop a clear labelling system for gene edited food, and include labelling requirements in the bill.
Restaurant Association
Since 1972, the Restaurant Association has worked to offer advice, help and assistance in every facet of the vibrant and diverse hospitality industry. Our mission is to be the link between good food and good business, so that our Member’s restaurant or café can succeed.
We’re passionate about our vibrant industry, which is full of interesting, talented and entrepreneurial people. Our members cover the length and breadth of the country: we are organised into 13 regional branches and led by a national office located in Mt Eden, Auckland.