New Zealand has set new regulations for GMOs in order to provide assurance to both industry and public.

The regulations will take effect from November 7, 2008 onwards, and would tighten the ability to segregate the trace conditionally released GMOs, according to Environment Minister Trevor Mallard's announcement.

When the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) receives an application to conditionally release a GMO, the applicant have to show how they plan to keep the GMOs separate from other organisms and how to trace the GMO, if appropriate, the announcement said.

The changes aim to provide a higher level of transparency, accountability and public openness in the management of GM crops should they be approved for use in New Zealand. The new regulation also provides greater certainty to applicants on the information that they would need to provide to ERMA before a conditional release application would be considered.

The new regulations clarify the rules and will help ERMA in its work of realising the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification - proceeding cautiously in enabling New Zealand to pursue the benefits of genetic modification technology, Mallard said.

ERMA has not yet approved any conditional release of a GMO.