3410 (2025). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Agriculture

3410 (2025). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Agriculture: How will, if at all, will the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review process speed up the approval of methane-reducing technologies in New Zealand, and what, if any, specific steps are being considered to accelerate the approval process for methane inhibitors?

Hon Todd McClay: The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has worked with the Ministry for Regulation on its agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review is being finalised and its recommendations will be considered. MPI is already undertaking actions to streamline the regulatory process for approval of methane inhibitors under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997. These include streamlining the methane inhibitor efficacy guidance document (this document provides advice on matters such as trial design and statistical requirements), commencing work with overseas regulators to utilise their regulatory reports in New Zealand Food Safety’s assessment of applications, and strengthening the data assessment process.