Government Moves to Cut Red Tape for Agriculture and Horticulture Products

“These are positive steps towards achieving the review's recommendations, and I expect improvements to continue at pace,” Simmonds said.

Regulation Overhaul to Boost Farmers' Access to Key Products

Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have announced a major reform aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays in the approval of critical agricultural and horticultural products.

The Ministry for Regulation has released a set of recommendations designed to streamline the approval process for products regulated under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act and the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act. These products, including veterinary medicines and agrichemicals, are essential for farmers and growers to effectively manage livestock and crops.

Minister Seymour highlighted the detrimental impact of long approval delays, noting that some farmers and growers had waited over five years for product approvals from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

"That's completely unacceptable and it's costing the economy millions in lost productivity," Seymour stated. "The Government is cutting red tape to ensure farmers and growers can quickly access the high-quality products they need so we can grow the economy."

Key Benefits and Expected Economic Impact

The review estimates that halving approval times for new agricultural and horticultural products could generate benefits of approximately $272 million over 20 years for New Zealand's primary sector. Faster product access will boost productivity and international competitiveness.

Accepted Recommendations

Cabinet has accepted all 16 recommendations from the review, including:

• Setting clear targets to expedite assessments and reduce application backlogs.
• Increasing the use of HSNO rapid pathways, ACVM registration exemptions, and self-assessment options for applicable products.
• Minimizing ACVM efficacy requirements for inhibitors to the essential levels required for risk management.
• Leveraging assessments conducted by international regulators to fast-track approvals.
• Establishing a strategic pathway for prioritizing essential products.
• Updating the EPA's risk assessment models to reflect current industry standards.

Implementation Progress

Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds noted that the EPA has already initiated efforts to enhance the HSNO system. This includes hiring additional staff for hazardous substance applications, implementing a prioritization framework for approval queues, and developing new group standards for low-risk hazardous substances.

"These are positive steps towards achieving the review's recommendations, and I expect improvements to continue at pace," Simmonds said.

Minister for Food Safety Andrew Hoggard emphasized that MPI has been proactive in implementing the review's findings as part of the broader ACVM Modernization program.

"Eight out of the 13 recommendations applicable to MPI are already in progress or can commence immediately," Hoggard confirmed. "MPI has worked closely with the Ministry for Regulation to begin addressing these recommendations, and I look forward to seeing further advancements this year."

Background of the Review

The Agricultural and Horticultural Products Regulatory Review was conducted from August to December 2024, focusing on the approval processes for new products. The review was initiated in response to concerns that increasing regulatory burdens were negatively impacting New Zealand's international competitiveness.

With these reforms, the Government aims to modernize regulatory frameworks, enhance efficiency, and ensure that the agricultural and horticultural sectors can thrive with timely access to innovative and essential products.