​You do not need approval from us to develop the following organisms (unless the organism is new to New Zealand):

• Organisms that result solely from selection or natural regeneration, hand pollination, or other managed, controlled pollination.

• Organisms that are regenerated from organs, tissues, or cell culture, including those produced through selection and propagation of somaclonal variants, embryo rescue, and cell fusion (including protoplast fusion or chemical or radiation treatments that cause changes in chromosome number or cause chromosome rearrangements).

• Organisms that result solely from artificial insemination, superovulation, embryo transfer, or embryo splitting.

• Organisms modified solely by the movement of nucleic acids using physiological processes, including conjugation, transduction, and transformation; and plasmid loss or spontaneous deletion.

• Organisms resulting from spontaneous deletions, rearrangements, and amplifications within a single genome, including its extrachromosomal elements. 

However, if nucleic acid molecules produced using in vitro manipulation are transferred using physiological processes such as conjugation, transduction or transformation, the resulting organism is a genetically modified organism.

​You need approval to import and grow new plant species in New Zealand.

If you want to import and grow new species of plants (for example, to grow in your home garden or commercially) you need approval from us and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). We look at whether the plant species itself may cause harm to New Zealand, while MPI assesses the biosecurity risks from the pests and diseases the imported plants may carry.

Please contact us by phone 04 474 5591, or email neworganisms@epa.govt.nz to discuss your options if you want to import new plants.

You need approval to import new microbial species to use in the New Zealand environment.

If you want to import a new species of microorganism you need approval from us and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). We look at whether the microorganism itself may cause harm to New Zealand, while MPI assesses the biosecurity risks.

Please note that there are some organisms that are not allowed in New Zealand at all.

See what organisms are prohibited in New Zealand

Please contact us by phone (04) 474 5591 or email neworganisms@epa.govt.nz to discuss your options if you want to import new microorganisms.

To talk to MPI about importing new microorganisms, contact the Animal Imports team at animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz