Summarised by Centrist
Organic Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) says public pressure has forced the government to scrap plans for a 100-fold increase in glyphosate residue limits in food crops.
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) confirmed that residue limits for wheat, barley and oats will remain at 0.1 mg/kg, and that pre-harvest spraying of glyphosate on grains for human consumption will now be banned.
OANZ called the decision a “collective victory” for farmers, consumers and environmental advocates who lodged 3,100 submissions opposing the proposed change.
“This is a win for New Zealanders and our food system,” said OANZ chair Noel Josephson. “New Zealanders want a food system that prioritises health, integrity and environmental protection over chemical convenience. We commend MPI for listening to that message.”
Josephson said the move aligns New Zealand with its “clean, green” image and protects confidence in export markets that increasingly reject chemical residues. He added that the decision “validates years of effort by the organic sector and its allies to raise awareness about chemical residues and the risks they pose to both consumers and soil health.”
The group says the ruling will help protect organic certification standards by reducing contamination risks from conventional farms, calling it a crucial step toward “organic and regenerative systems that eliminate the need for these chemicals.”
Read more over at Organics Aotearoa NZ
Image: Mike Mozart
