Liz Shackleton: Animal and Plant Health NZ CEO on red tape continuing to tie up agricultural and horticultural product approvals

Red tape continues to tie up New Zealand's agriculture and horticultural sectors. 

Animal and Plant Health NZ's annual survey finds nearly half its members feel regulatory performance has worsened, despite recommendations put forward by the Ministry for Regulation earlier this year. 

Chief executive Liz Shackleton told Mike Hosking despite reassurance from regulators, the day-to-day process is not getting easier. 

She says farmers and growers face a raft of challenges and don't have the right tools for the job. 

She says it's a real handbrake on economic growth, and we're missing out on better environmental outcomes. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Flag or two we got this morning on the egg
sector over red tape. So you remember Kevin had approved
a review back in February over red tape. They argued
that there was about a quarter billion dollar benefit by
cutting red tape making things more efficient. However, new survey
of this morning shows virtually half forty eight percent of
businesses so regulatory performance has worsened. Nothing's changed. Doctor Liz Sheckleton,
as the chief Executive for Animal and Plant Health New

(00:21):
Zealand enders with us lost morning.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Thanks Mike, great to be back on the show.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
So what has happened here? Are the new rules in
place and they don't work? Or are we still waiting
for the new rules to arrive?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
So basically, Mike, as you said, back in February, Ministry
for Regulation did a review, led out recommendations to cott
red tape to get new tools into farmers' hands. Now,
industry support the ministers for this review. They laid out
a clear role map. They're committed to deliver change and
legislative reform, which we're expecting in the next few months.

(00:55):
That's long over due, but that will take time and meanwhile,
farmer need new tools. Now nine months on moment of
truth here on the ground, farmers and companies that develop
and make these products say there's no change and can
share a little bit more about what we're hearing.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Okay, regulatory performance has worsened for the Agricultural Compounds and
Victory Medicines Group of the Ministry of Primary Industries. How's
it possible it's got worse.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
So a survey from our members, so these are four
contexts for the audience to people that have the applications
actually in the queue for the new tools, found that
not a single company surveyed reports improvement with red tape.
And as you've said, many said it's getting worse. Look.
While it's encouraging, Mike, we're hearing promises about legislative change

(01:46):
and agreement to work with other regulators like a trans
TASMINMOU that was signed this week, the reality for our
companies on the ground is actions needed now to see results.
And back in October we launched a blueprint for change
that looks at three actions that can be tangibly taken
right now. They are three things. One approve the tools

(02:10):
that matter the most for farmers, So that's the new
stuff that works in a new way. New actives and
new label uses. We're hearing the cues being cleared, but
is it the new tools or just more of the
same old stuff. Two shrink lower priority work. Three using
over sales tools and data that regulators overseas are using.

(02:31):
And three it's that meaningful engagement with industry, including progressing
this omnibus bill, Mike, because the bottom line is our
farmers and growers face are after challenges. They don't have
the right tools for the job. It's a real handbrick
on economic growth and we're missing out on better environmental outcomes.
And look, I can give you two examples in the

(02:53):
primary sector if you're interested in Look, let's look at
wine and hot chips. Australian Us Canadian wine growers have
had a new insect aside for meleiebug. That's a pest
in grapes that they've been using and for market access
raisings for many years. The company that makes that product
first came to New Zealand regulators back in twenty nineteen

(03:16):
to approve it. Still in the queue hot chips, Mike.
Vegetable growers, they need new tools for potatoes, onions, other crops,
things like blight and little insects called trips. I mean
not even the humble hot ship is safe here. Many
of these solutions are already trusted and in use overseas.

(03:37):
The longer New Zealand delays, the further we fall behind.
So the bottom line with the review is we're looking
to see action and results will speak louder than word.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
Well. I wish you the best with it and will
stay on top of it. Liz, I'm disappointed to hear it, unfortunately,
but she did go down the wine and hot chips,
and even though it is early, yes, please For more
from The Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks
from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio