NZ Is Risking Health!
(A NZ Residents Only Petition)
▫️An Independent Citizen-Led Petition
▫️Backed by Independent Scientific Research
▫️#NoHarmToFood www.noharmtofood.nz

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As an individual deeply concerned about my health and the food I consume daily. I am horrified by two NZ bills. One bill is about Gene Technology and pesticides, and the other is about increasing glyphosate levels in food. Glyphosate is sold under many brand names, including 'Roundup.'

I’m deeply concerned about the increasing genetic modification of fruits and vegetables to make them more resistant to pests and diseases.  This is proven to have dire consequences. The hardier these modified food items, the more they withstand frequent and more potent pesticide applications. This results in higher levels of pesticides in our environment and our meals. 

In poor form, the Gene Technology Bill is being labelled 'to match scientific and technological advancements.' When in reality, independent scientific evidence shows this bill — and the proposed glyphosate increases — bill —  are dangerous and poorly aligned with public health and ecological science.

Independent scientific studies increasingly show that glyphosate—even at levels currently considered safe—can cause serious health problems. Research from the Ramazzini Institute found early-life exposures disrupt development, gut health, hormones, and DNA integrity well before cancer develops. Other studies reveal glyphosate accumulates in organs, causing oxidative damage, and current safety limits may underestimate risks. Human data links higher glyphosate exposure to memory loss, depression, and hearing issues, while studies on adolescents show impaired cognitive and behavioural function. Animal research also indicates that prenatal glyphosate exposure can trigger autism-like behaviours. Together, this evidence signals an urgent need to reconsider glyphosate safety standards and protect public health. (Relevant scientific studies are cited throughout this petition, with **additional important research listed at the end for reference.)

• New Scientific Evidence Highlights Serious Health Risks from Glyphosate and GMOs
  
  
• Recent groundbreaking research published in 2025 shows that glyphosate—even at doses much lower than current “safe” levels—can cause a wide range of tumors, including leukemia, liver, thyroid, and mammary gland tumors.
  
  
• A landmark study by Panzacchi et al. followed lifetime exposure from before birth through adulthood and found significant increases in both benign and malignant tumors in animals exposed to glyphosate at low doses. 
  
  This study confirms previous research by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and others, linking glyphosate and genetically modified crops to serious health problems. Importantly, a prior independent lifetime feeding study found that exposure to Roundup and GMO corn caused tumors and organ damage in animals, even at doses similar to typical human exposures.
  
  Together, these findings strongly support banning glyphosate and genetically engineered crops designed for pesticide resistance, as their widespread use is harming human health and the environment.
  
  
•  A highly cited study from 2000 that previously concluded glyphosate was safe for humans was formally retracted in 2025 due to ethical and conflict-of-interest concerns and is no longer considered valid evidence. The fact that this paper influenced regulatory assessments for decades, despite undisclosed industry involvement, raises serious questions about how glyphosate safety has been evaluated.
  
  References:
  
  
• Panzacchi, S., et al. (2025). Carcinogenic effects of long-term exposure from prenatal life to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides in Sprague–Dawley rats. Environmental Health, 24(1), 36. 
  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-025-01187-2
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• Summary by Dr. André Leu et al., Regeneration International: 
  https://organicconsumers.org/glyphosate-and-gmos-are-damaging-our-health-its-time-to-ban-them/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMBCb1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkUEs0MnhjTGVjbW5ZSGhFAR4JpE4KrK4bv9ZVJ0IwW5qYYg2C0ZdKmDivR0TtYCOGt_J9LLJMScYApIxMyg_aem_He-GhEyJuJk7avBKVsLnvw
  
  
• C&EN: Glyphosate study from 2000 retracted amid corporate-influence concerns
  https://cen.acs.org/research-integrity/misconduct/Glyphosate-study-2000-retracted-amid/103/web/2025/12?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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• Following the widespread adoption of glyphosate-resistant genetically engineered (GE) crops:

• In Monte Maíz, Argentina, a region dominated by genetically engineered soybean and maize farming, cancer incidence was reported to be 225.8% higher than the national average — more than triple the new cancer cases diagnosed each year. Cancer prevalence was 140.2% higher, and mortality rates were 232.7% higher, indicating a severe public health crisis linked to high glyphosate exposure.

• Additionally, research by Avila-Vázquez et al. in Monte Maíz found that glyphosate exposure was associated with reproductive health impacts, including spontaneous abortion rates of 10% (compared to 3% nationally) and congenital abnormalities at 4.3% (compared to 1.4% nationally), two to three times higher than average.
  
  Ref: https://www.scirp.org/html/4-6703530_83267.htm
  
  Ref: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-016-0117-0
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I say NO to increasing glyphosate in NZ foods. Many countries have banned it or pledged to do better by lowering levels or pledging to remove it. 

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THE GENE TECHNOLOGY BILL 
1. Please tell the government NOT to mess with our food by not updating this regulation: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/agencies-policies-and-budget-initiatives/gene-technology-regulation

A prime example of a harmful pesticide prevalent today is glyphosate, which research has shown can end up in human breast milk (Pesticide Action Network, 2014). This alarming fact highlights the intrusive and dangerous impact of unregulated pesticide use on our bodies. Yet our government is focused on fast-tracking this legislation with insufficient public consultation and awareness.

I propose a pivot towards promoting spray-free organic food and prioritising quality health over pesticide-mediated agriculture. Organic farming can be a sustainable alternative, benefiting both our bodies and our planet. Let us be advocates for our health and the environment.

Therefore, I implore you to lend your voice to this cause. Sign this petition to demand that our governments put a halt to pushing for the genetic modification of produce for enhanced pesticide resistance. Stand for healthier, organic (and spray-free) food options and protect our right to healthful living.

NZ needs to go forward, not backwards. NZ already faces some of the highest global cancer rates, including colorectal cancer. Numerous peer-reviewed studies have linked pesticide and herbicide exposure to cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As international concern over these risks grows, reducing exposure must be treated as a matter of national health policy.

We owe it to each other to do the right thing. 
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• Health Info:
  
  *2023. A study by Lucknow's Queen Mary Hospital has claimed that pesticides have been found in the milk of pregnant women, which were responsible for the death of nearly 111 newborns in the past ten months in Maharajganj district."
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• "Pesticides are frequently applied without precision, which leads to a number of adverse effects on human health, from acute intoxication to chronic diseases that include various types of cancer (brain cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and colon cancer) [11,12], Alzheimer's disease (AD) [13], Parkinson's disease [14], neurotoxicity [15,16], infertility [17,18], leukemia [19] and diabetes"
  
  Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024051594
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• A medical study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association about Parkinson's Disease (PD) finds that: "Living within 1 mile of a golf course was associated with 126% increased odds of developing PD compared with individuals living more than 6 miles away from a golf course."
  
  Meaning  
  These findings suggest that pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence of PD for nearby residents.
  
  Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833716?utm_campaign=articlePDF&utm_medium=articlePDFlink&utm_source=articlePDF&utm_content=jamanetworkopen.2025.9198
  
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• "Among the pesticides, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been widely used across the world to control agricultural pests and vector borne diseases (malaria and dengue). Organochlorine pesticides are non-volatile compounds. The problem with using them is that they linger for a long time in natural systems. The use of these substances in an indiscriminate manner has the potential to affect the environment, drinking water systems, and human health. The OCPs’ exposure over time can result in cancer, birth deformities, neurological impairment, reproductive problems, and immune system disease"
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• "The consumption of such vegetables and fruits that are grown in pesticide contaminated soil and water used for long-term, accumulation increase the concentration of toxins inside the body organs and causes chronic diseases such as neurotoxicity, cancer, necrosis, asthma, reproductive disorder, cardiac disease, diabetes, etc."
  
  Ref: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9428564
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• "2023. Business Insider India reports over 100 infant deaths from pesticide exposure in breast milk. A study by Lucknow’s Queen Mary Hospital links pesticides in breast milk to the death of 111 newborns over the past ten months in the Maharajganj district of northern India. The study is a testament to the effects pesticides can have on the health of individuals, especially vulnerable populations like infants."
  
  *Ref: https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2023/02/pesticides-in-breast-milk-linked-to-over-100-newborn-deaths-in-less-than-a-year/
  
  Ref: https://www.organic-center.org/research/new-study-mothers-living-u-s-shows-high-levels-glyphosate-breast-milk
  
  

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2. THE GLYPHOSATE INCREASE BILL
(The Glyphosate Maximum Residue Level (MRL) Increase Proposal)

NZ Food 'Safety' is considering going backwards. NZ Food Safety wants to increase the maximum residue levels of glyphosate in:

-Wheat, barley, and oats – proposed increases were withdrawn; limits remain at 0.1 mg/kg

-Field peas (dried) – 60 times more; from 0.1 to 6 mg/kg

View NZ Food Safety's proposal

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/68256-Proposals-to-Amend-the-New-Zealand-Food-Notice-Maximum-Residue-Levels-for-Agricultural-Compounds?fbclid=IwY2xjawKbuwRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFieWVuQnN4alNoc25IRWJSAR5Py8o7NQNALE6BZYn7rlxVHLpjyJcutTF7twTNGqeYlL_1qgfLt_kzJWk15Q_aem_q_vK7jbaD5X8gEyRRKsIDg

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• Exposure to glyphosate increases the risk of a cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41 percent
  
  Analysis:
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383574218300887
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• In a 2022 study, glyphosate was found in 99% of pregnant women tested in the U.S

  Published in Environmental Health (2022), the study found nearly all pregnant participants had detectable glyphosate levels — and those with higher levels had shorter pregnancies, a risk factor for long-term developmental and health issues in children.
  
  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-022-00906-3?utm_source

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Countries That Are Banning or Reducing Glyphosate

• Vietnam: Banned the use of glyphosate throughout the country.
• Fiji and Qatar: Outright bans on glyphosate.
• Thailand: Has banned glyphosate and two other farming chemicals.
• France, Germany, Austria, Italy: Have implemented restrictions or bans, often with limited exceptions, on glyphosate use.
• Belgium: Banned the use of glyphosate in public areas and for private use in gardens.
• Czech Republic: Curtailed the use of glyphosate, particularly for desiccating crops for human consumption.
• Mexico: Has pledged to eliminate glyphosate use.
• The Netherlands: Has banned the household use of glyphosate.
• Sri Lanka: Banned the private and commercial use of glyphosate.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Prohibited the importation of glyphosate-based herbicides.
• Other countries: Many other countries have banned or severely restricted glyphosate use. 

Countries That Have Banned the Cultivation of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Designed to Be Pesticide-Resistant, With Some Also Restricting Imports:

• European Union:
  A significant number of EU member states have banned or restricted GMO cultivation, including France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark, Malta, Slovenia, Italy, and Croatia. 
• Other European Countries:
  Russia and Switzerland also have bans or restrictions on GMO cultivation.  
• Asia-Pacific:
  Australia, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Japan, and Saudi Arabia are among the countries with restrictions or bans.  
• Africa:
  Many African countries have either banned or have significant restrictions on GMO cultivation. Countries like Algeria and Madagascar are mentioned as having bans in place.  
• Americas:
  Belize, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela have also banned or restricted GMO cultivation.  
• Other notable examples:
  China and India are also mentioned as having bans or restrictions, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 
  
  Trade Concerns:
  Some countries are concerned about potential impacts on trade with countries that have stricter GMO regulations, particularly within the EU. 

World Refs: According to official government regulations and international reports from bodies such as the European Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and national agricultural and environmental ministries, many countries have implemented bans or strict restrictions on glyphosate use and the cultivation of genetically modified crops designed to be pesticide-resistant.

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**Scientific Studies Raising Serious Concerns About Glyphosate

• The Ramazzini Institute's Independent Long-Term Research Their 2018 pilot study tested glyphosate and Roundup at “safe” doses and found early‐life exposures could alter development, gut microbiome, hormone levels, and DNA integrity—even before cancer develops. A larger, fully integrated follow‑up study is still underway https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5972398/?utm_source
  
  
• Consensus Statement on Risks of Glyphosate-Based Herbicides
  A multi-author analysis reports that glyphosate provokes oxidative damage in rat liver and kidneys, with residue levels in those organs up to 100× higher than in the muscle or fat. They argue that current acceptable daily intake values (ADI) may be too high and call for far more rigorous exposure monitoring and safety factors https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4756530/?utm_source
  
  
• NHANES Analysis: Cognitive & Mental Health Impacts
  Data from the 2013–14 survey of over 1,500 US adults showed that higher urinary glyphosate was significantly associated with poorer memory performance. Severe depressive symptoms and hearing difficulty were more likely in those with elevated glyphosate levels https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S001393512301664X
  
  
• Ecuador Teen Study on Neurobehavioral Effects
  Measured glyphosate and 2,4‑D in urine for 519 adolescents. Nearly all had detectable glyphosate levels, and higher levels correlated with poorer attention, memory, language, and inhibitory control https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1003778
  
  
• Autism-Like Effects in Animal Models
  A rodent study found maternal glyphosate exposure caused autism‑like behaviours in offspring, linked to increased enzyme activity in the brain regions affecting polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32398374/