New Zealand: Biotechnology experiments should be outlawed

The New Zealand government is considering a Gene Technology Bill that would liberalise genetic modification regulations. All political parties, including NZ First, agree that regulations on genetic modification should be liberalised even if they disapprove of the current draft Bill.

Dr. Guy Hatchard says that instead of liberalising regulations, stricter controls on genetic modification are needed; biotechnology experiments should be outlawed entirely.

NZ First has admitted it voted to progress an amended version of the Gene Technology Bill out of the select committee stage and return it to the whole house for consideration. RNZ published an article entitled ‘NZ First to withhold support for Gene Tech bill unless major changes are made’. Despite their opposition to the current draft, NZ First also affirmed their support for a compromise version of the Bill, saying “New Zealand First is not against a responsible, safe and pragmatic pathway to genetic modification technology utilisation.”

The Labour Party is also opposed to the Bill in its current form, but like NZ First offers its “broad agreement that New Zealand’s gene technology regulations are outdated and in need of modernisation.”

Te Pati Maori said they “will be pushing for amendments during the Committee of the Whole House stage.”...<<<Read More>>>...

What he wants his Cult owners want: Tony Blair calls for gene-editing to prevent further ‘pandemics’

 Gene editing in animals should be legalised in Britain to prevent pandemics, Sir Tony Blair has urged.

Allowing gene-editing in livestock could “cut farmer losses” from disease and reduce the transmission of diseases from animals to humans, according to a report by the Tony Blair Institute.

Gene editing – changing the DNA of an organism by altering its genetic code – can be used to make animals resistant to a certain virus, including bird flu.

Gene editing of plants has been legal in England since a law was passed in 2023, but so far the secondary legislation needed to permit gene-edited animals outside of a laboratory environment has not gone through.

The report urged the Government to bring forward the legislation “as a matter of urgency”.

Sir Tony and Lord Hague, who also backed the report, wrote in a joint contribution to it: “Gene editing can help breed farm animals that are more resilient to viruses and prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens to humans.”

They added: “Five years ago, our country was caught unprepared by the Covid pandemic.

“It would be a tragedy if in so short a time span we forgot the lessons of that unfortunate period, and failed to do enough to ensure we are sufficiently prepared for the next one....<<<Read More>>>...