The Government has overturned a long-running ban on gene technology outside the lab.

Legislation will be introduced to Parliament this year and passed by the end of next year, ending the ban and establishing a new regulator.

NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says New Zealand is catching up to decades-old developments - and it's unclear how the regime will impact trade.

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• 'Significant downside': Greens maintain decades-long opposition to GE crops
• AgResearch eager to utilise new gene technology standards for new projects
• Barry Soper: You can't stand in the way of science