Gene Technology Bill harms
Updated 14 December, 2025
Gene Technology Bill harms
Below are examples of how the application of the Gene Technology Bill could negatively affect your life.
Gene Tech Bill harms (click each item to expand)
Sold as a means to "boost supermarket competition" the government are proposing to replace physical food labels with digital alternatives
“Information could be made accessible in-store and online via on-shelf QR codes, in-store digital labels, websites and mobile apps"
The implications this has for the customer are numerous:
- The customer could be required to carry a digital device into the supermarket if they need product ingredient information when making a purchase decision.
- Privacy issues: Does registering to the supermarket become a requirement to find this information? Is search data being kept or stored in some way?
- Food labelling requirements could become ambiguous to the point where shop owners inadvertently fail to provide key basic information
Bovaer, a cattle feed supplement developed by dam-firmenich to reduce methane emissions has made cattle sick and die after government authorities mandated its use on farms.
If New Zealand passes through the Gene Technology Bill, 'Solutions' like BOVAER will become distinct possibilities within the New Zealand food and agricultural ecosystem.
Bovaer, are passed on in milk and meat. In the US, the FDA classified BOVAER as a drug, but stated that it will not enforce it. enabling it to be used as a feed additive. This means less stringent testing and no long-term, on-going testing has been or will be carried out.
Modifying the microbiome of cows can have serious consequences. Bovaer disrupts their gut bacteria, causing dysbiosis, which can be harmful to their health."
UPDATE 12 November 2025: In a pivotal shift, Denmark's Veterinary and Food Administration has issued new guidance: Farmers can immediately suspend Bovaer administration if they "suspect" it poses risks to herd health. NOTE: This is after being mandated to use it.
New Zealand, opting into the Gene Technology Bill, would likely face such mandates for livestock, even if they are later found to be harmful.