Genetic Manipulation

Policy

Subject to the primacy of animal welfare and safety considerations, the New Zealand Veterinary Association supports the continued development and use of scientifically-based genetic manipulation technologies to improve the health, productivity and welfare of animals as well as improving the safety of human food from animal sources.

Explanation

The NZVA acknowledges that aspects of genetic manipulation are of concern to many New Zealanders, including individual members of the veterinary profession. While recognising that ethical issues associated with food safety, cultural values, animal well being and environmental impact should be defined and debated before a decision is made on any particular manipulation,  the NZVA believes in principle that modern techniques of genetic manipulation (including recombinant DNA, gene deletions, gene reassortments and gene therapy) represent a valid extension of traditional methods of genetic manipulation of micro-organisms, plants and animals such as selection based on phenotypic traits, inbreeding, cross-breeding and various methods of microbial mutagenesis and attenuation. Indeed, such  techniques may give considerable benefits over traditional selective breeding techniques for improving the health, welfare and productivity of animals.

The NZVA  sees particular promise in further use of modern DNA technology to produce safe and efficacious vaccines, diagnostic reagents and therapeutic substances.

Whenever appropriate, veterinarians should explain to their clients and interested members of the public the risks and benefits of this technology as it applies to animal health and welfare.

Experimental procedures on animals require Animal Ethics Committee approval, which safeguards the welfare of the experimental subjects and ensures that experiments are justified.

Guidelines

1. Concern for the welfare of the animals to be manipulated is paramount.  Potential welfare issues should be thoroughly evaluated before any genetic engineering is undertaken.  Welfare issues should also be closely monitored throughout the duration of all experiments and subsequently when released from experimental regulation and controls.
2. All personnel associated with or involved in the genetic manipulation of animals should be familiar with and abide by all legislation relating to the manipulation of animals.  Part 6 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 demands assessment of animal research proposals on scientific and ethical grounds before commencement.
3. All personnel associated with or involved in genetic manipulation should be familiar with the requirements of the New Organisms part of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act and the policies of the body that administers this part of the Act, the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA).  Under this legislation, a product of genetic manipulation not approved for general release is considered to be a new organism.  *Several sections in this legislation define issues relevant to genetically modified organisms.
4. Given the theoretical possibility, however slight, of transfer of antibiotic resistance from marker genes, the NZVA supports moves towards other marker systems that do not use antibiotic resistance genes.

References

Animal Welfare Act 1999

NAEAC Good Practice Guide for the Use of Animals in Research, Testing and Teaching

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996

Policy Files: 

14b - Genetic Manipulation - Dec09.pdf