Kia ora Cam,

 

Thank you for your request for official information received on 8 July
2021 for:

 

"Since 19 October 2020, under the Official Information Act 1982, I wish to
request the following from the Minister of Health, Associate Ministers of
Health and the Ministry of Health,

in connection to the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan:

 

A) Copies of all letters, emails, analysis, studies and reports connected
to proposals to incorporate genetically engineered tobacco referred to on
page 8 of the Impact Summary Proposals

for a Smokefree Aotearoa. For the absence of doubt this should include
tobacco created using techniques broadly described as being GE or
genetically modified.

 

B) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies and
reports with and between:

- 22 Century Corporation (referred to in the Regulatory Impact Statement
on page 8 in connection to the “Moonlight” brand) to include officers,
agents or representatives of this company;

- Philip Morris International (referred to in the Regulatory Impact
Statement on page 8 in connection to the “Next” brand”) to include
officers, agents or representatives of this company;

- British American Tobacco to include officers, agents or representatives
of this company;

- Imperial Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of this
company;

- Japan Tobacco International to include officers, agents or
representatives of this company; and

- Liggett Vector Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of
this company.

 

C) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies and
reports with and between BioTech NZ to include officers, agents or
representatives of this organisation.

 

D) Copies of all meeting/file notes and phone calls/video conferences and
zoom/teams calls, as well as the dates of such meetings, with and between:

- 22 Century Corporation to include officers, agents or representatives of
this company;

- Philip Morris International to include officers, agents or
representatives of this company;

- British American Tobacco to include officers, agents or representatives
of this company;

- Imperial Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of this
company;

- Japan Tobacco International to include officers, agents or
representatives of this company;

- Liggett Vector Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of
this company; and

- BioTech NZ to include officers, agents or representatives of this
organisation.

 

E) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports, analysis and applications related to the planting, harvesting,
processing and manufacturing of growing genetically engineered low
nicotine tobacco.

 

F) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports and analysis on how genetic engineering complies with the Crown’s
obligation under Te Tiriri o Waitangi.

 

G) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports, analysis on the human health implications of genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco, including,

but not limited to, toxicity; allergic reactions; antibiotic resistance;
immuno-suppression and cancer.

 

H) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports, analysis or applications connected to genetically engineered low
nicotine tobacco, with and between:

- Environmental Protection Agency;

- Ministry for the Environment;

- Ministry for Primary Industries;

- MBIE;

- Te Puni Kôkiri;

- New Zealand Food Safety; and

- Medsafe.

 

I) Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.

 

j) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies and
reports connected to genetically engineered low nicotine tobacco, with and
between:

- Minister for Primary Industries;

- Minister for Food Safety;

- Minister for Research, Science and Innovation;

- Minister for Mâori Economic Development; and

- Minister of Mâori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti."

 

The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202108347.

 

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 5 August 2021, being 20
working days after the day your request was received.

 

If we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we
will notify you of an extension of that time frame.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

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Kia ora Cam,

 

On behalf of Nick Allan, OIA Manager, please see attached the transfer of
your OIA request.

 

 

Ngā mihi

OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
Ministry of Health
E: [2][email address]

 

 

 

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legal privilege.
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distribute or copy this message or attachments.
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Good morning

The Environmental Protection Authority has received a part-transfer of an
OIA request you made to them.

The part that has been transferred requests:

 

“Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.”

 

This has been logged and assigned to a team member to draft a response.

Kind regards,

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

+64 4 474 5442 

 

[1]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [2]Facebook, [3]Twitter and [4]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
3. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...

Kia ora Cam,

 

Thank you for your request for official information, received on 8 July
2021 requesting:

 

“Since 19 October 2020, under the Official Information Act 1982, I wish to
request the following from the Minister of Health, Associate Ministers of
Health and the Ministry of Health, in connection to the Smokefree Aotearoa
2025 Action Plan:

 

A) Copies of all letters, emails, analysis, studies and reports connected
to proposals to incorporate genetically engineered tobacco referred to on
page 8 of the Impact Summary Proposals for a Smokefree Aotearoa. For the
absence of doubt this should include tobacco created using techniques
broadly described as being GE or genetically modified.

 

B) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies and
reports with and between:

- 22 Century Corporation (referred to in the Regulatory Impact Statement
on page 8 in connection to the “Moonlight” brand) to include officers,
agents or representatives of this company;

- Philip Morris International (referred to in the Regulatory Impact
Statement on page 8 in connection to the “Next” brand”) to include
officers, agents or representatives of this company;

- British American Tobacco to include officers, agents or representatives
of this company;

- Imperial Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of this
company;

- Japan Tobacco International to include officers, agents or
representatives of this company; and

- Liggett Vector Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of
this company.

 

C) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies and
reports with and between BioTech NZ to include officers, agents or
representatives of this organisation.

 

D) Copies of all meeting/file notes and phone calls/video conferences and
zoom/teams calls, as well as the dates of such meetings, with and between:

- 22 Century Corporation to include officers, agents or representatives of
this company;

- Philip Morris International to include officers, agents or
representatives of this company;

- British American Tobacco to include officers, agents or representatives
of this company;

- Imperial Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of this
company;

- Japan Tobacco International to include officers, agents or
representatives of this company;

- Liggett Vector Brands to include officers, agents or representatives of
this company; and

- BioTech NZ to include officers, agents or representatives of this
organisation.

 

E) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports, analysis and applications related to the planting, harvesting,
processing and manufacturing of growing genetically engineered low
nicotine tobacco.

 

F) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports and analysis on how genetic engineering complies with the Crown’s
obligation under Te Tiriri o Waitangi.

 

G) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports, analysis on the human health implications of genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco, including, but not limited to, toxicity;
allergic reactions; antibiotic resistance; immuno-suppression and cancer.

 

H) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies,
reports, analysis or applications connected to genetically engineered low
nicotine tobacco, with and between:

- Environmental Protection Agency;

- Ministry for the Environment;

- Ministry for Primary Industries;

- MBIE;

- Te Puni Kôkiri;

- New Zealand Food Safety; and

- Medsafe.

 

I) Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.

 

j) Copies of all letters, emails, briefings, correspondence, studies and
reports connected to genetically engineered low nicotine tobacco, with and
between:

- Minister for Primary Industries;

- Minister for Food Safety;

- Minister for Research, Science and Innovation;

- Minister for Mâori Economic Development; and

- Minister of Mâori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti.”

 

On 28 July 2021, the Ministry notified you that this part of your request
was transferred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for
response. You can expect a response from EPA in due course.

 

The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) as consultation is necessary to make a decision on your
request and cannot reasonably be made within the normal 20 working day
time limit. The Ministry of Health will reply to your request by no later
than 19 August 2021, earlier if possible.

 

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.

 

Ngâ mihi

OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]

 

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

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References

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hide quoted sections

Good afternoon

 

I am writing in relation to your Official Information Act request which
was transferred to us by the Ministry of Health on 28 July 2021.

 

You have asked for

 “Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.”

 

It would be helpful if you could be a little more specific about your
request, or give us some context around the information you are looking
for. Tobacco plants are currently  commonly used in experiments in New
Zealand, and it is not clear  exactly what information you are seeking.

 

Would you please let us know a little more about the context of your
request.

For example, are you interested in:

o Studies of genetic engineering or modification in tobacco plants?
o Tobacco plants that are intended to be used by being smoked?
o Information relating to the release of GM plants?

 

The EPA can grant consents for importing, development (production,
fermentation, or regeneration) or field test of any new organism.
including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in containment, or for
release. So there are potentially many ways in which genetically
engineered tobacco plants might be developed, studied or tested in, or
imported into, New Zealand.

 

The EPA publishes all approvals to our website, and you can access
information about new organisms using our online database [1]HSNO
application register | EPA. However, you will require the species name of
the organism you are interested in.

 

 

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

+64 4 474 5442 

 

[2]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [3]Facebook, [4]Twitter and [5]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

From: Lisa Mackenzie
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2021 9:07 am
To: [FOI #16003 email]
Subject: Official Information Act request transferred from the Ministry of
Health

 

Good morning

The Environmental Protection Authority has received a part-transfer of an
OIA request you made to them.

The part that has been transferred requests:

 

“Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.”

 

This has been logged and assigned to a team member to draft a response.

Kind regards,

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

+64 4 474 5442 

 

[6]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [7]Facebook, [8]Twitter and [9]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/...
2. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
3. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
4. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...
6. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
7. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
8. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
9. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...

Kia ora Cam

 

 

Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act
request.  

 

 

Nga mihi 

 

OIA Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
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hide quoted sections

Good morning

 

This is a follow-up request for a clarification of what information you
are seeking.

Could you please let me know more about what you are interested in?

At the moment, the request is not specific enough for us to start
collating the information and we need more clarity on what you want.

Thank you for your help.

Kind regards,

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

 

[1]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [2]Facebook, [3]Twitter and [4]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

From: Ministerials
Sent: Thursday, 5 August 2021 2:45 pm
To: [FOI #16003 email]
Cc: Alison Welch <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information Act request transferred from the
Ministry of Health

 

Good afternoon

 

I am writing in relation to your Official Information Act request which
was transferred to us by the Ministry of Health on 28 July 2021.

 

You have asked for

 “Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.”

 

It would be helpful if you could be a little more specific about your
request, or give us some context around the information you are looking
for. Tobacco plants are currently  commonly used in experiments in New
Zealand, and it is not clear  exactly what information you are seeking.

 

Would you please let us know a little more about the context of your
request.

For example, are you interested in:

o Studies of genetic engineering or modification in tobacco plants?
o Tobacco plants that are intended to be used by being smoked?
o Information relating to the release of GM plants?

 

The EPA can grant consents for importing, development (production,
fermentation, or regeneration) or field test of any new organism.
including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in containment, or for
release. So there are potentially many ways in which genetically
engineered tobacco plants might be developed, studied or tested in, or
imported into, New Zealand.

 

The EPA publishes all approvals to our website, and you can access
information about new organisms using our online database [5]HSNO
application register | EPA. However, you will require the species name of
the organism you are interested in.

 

 

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

+64 4 474 5442 

 

[6]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [7]Facebook, [8]Twitter and [9]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

From: Lisa Mackenzie
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2021 9:07 am
To: [10][FOI #16003 email]
Subject: Official Information Act request transferred from the Ministry of
Health

 

Good morning

The Environmental Protection Authority has received a part-transfer of an
OIA request you made to them.

The part that has been transferred requests:

 

“Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.”

 

This has been logged and assigned to a team member to draft a response.

Kind regards,

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

+64 4 474 5442 

 

[11]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [12]Facebook, [13]Twitter and [14]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
3. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...
5. https://www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/...
6. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
7. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
8. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
9. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...
10. mailto:[FOI #16003 email]
11. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
12. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
13. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
14. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...

Good morning

Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act request.

Kind regards,

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

 

[1]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [2]Facebook, [3]Twitter and [4]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

From: Lisa Mackenzie
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2021 9:07 am
To: [FOI #16003 email]
Subject: Official Information Act request transferred from the Ministry of
Health

 

Good morning

The Environmental Protection Authority has received a part-transfer of an
OIA request you made to them.

The part that has been transferred requests:

 

“Copies of all legal opinions/reports/analysis on growing genetically
engineered low nicotine tobacco under the current Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996.”

 

This has been logged and assigned to a team member to draft a response.

Kind regards,

 

Lisa MacKenzie (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor, Government Engagement and Official
Correspondence

 

 

[5]EPA_logo_teal_96dpi

 

Follow us on [6]Facebook, [7]Twitter and [8]LinkedIn.

 

Our New Zealand Business Number Is 9429041901977.

 

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
3. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...
5. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
6. https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
7. https://twitter.com/EPAgovtnz
8. https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...