Loophole for importing new animals into NZ closed

4.00pm

The Government is shutting down a technical loophole to stop tissue samples of animals not present in New Zealand being imported and used to clone whole animals.

Science Minister Pete Hodgson announced the changes to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act today. This was part of the Government's release of intended law changes preparing for the commercial release of genetically engineered organisms.

He said in a statement that when it was drawn up, the HSNO Act did not see the potential for technology to allow regeneration of a whole creature from a tissue sample.

"While it appears there is no work going on currently to introduce new organisms this way, we need to anticipate that possibility in the legislation to ensure the development of all new organisms is covered," Mr Hodgson said.

But there would be no barrier to researchers using the technique for animals already in New Zealand, whether farm animals or native fauna.

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said the law change would stop someone importing, for instance, tissue from a camel, and using it to create a whole animal.

A bid to have tourists riding Lawrence of Arabia-style around Rotorua on camels was been given the hump in July 1998 when agriculture officials refused to allow the import of the animals from Australia in case they turned feral.

The HSNO law is also being widened to cover the genetic modification of human cell "lines" in the laboratory for bio-medical research.

Human cell lines are groups of cells taken from human tissue -- including embryonic clusters of cells -- and grown in a container in the laboratory.

They are used for a range of research, such as testing the effect on human cells of potential new drugs.

"This type of work with human cell lines is not regulated at the moment," Mr Hodgson said. "It needs to be".

The law change would ensure some potential risks posed to human health and the environment by such work were adequately managed, though it would cover only work being done in laboratories for bio-medical research.

Any subsequent use of the cells for treating people would still require approval under health regulations and laws.

Genetic modification involving individuals is also not covered by the HSNO Act. It is currently prohibited and will be included in legislation now being prepared to regulate human-assisted reproductive technology.

- NZPA

Herald feature: Cloning