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Regulation and Policy
The Glyphosate Review NZ’s EPA Ignored: What the 2017 Report Revealed
A 2017 review warned the NZ EPA had overlooked major glyphosate risks. Eight years later, those same issues are heading to court — and nothing has changed.
Glyphosate Hazardous by Law — But Roundup’s Ingredients Stay Hidden
Glyphosate is legally classified as a Hazardous Substance, yet most of Roundup’s ingredients remain secret. Europe now requires full disclosure — so why doesn’t New Zealand?
Acute vs. Accumulated: Why Do We Regulate Tutin in Honey — But Not Glyphosate
Tutin in honey can trigger seizures — so NZ enforces strict limits and testing. Glyphosate? It’s in everyday food, yet quietly accepted. Why the double standard?
What’s Actually Being Tested? The Hidden Loophole in Chemical Approvals
We assume new chemicals are tested for safety — but in most cases, only one ingredient is tested, not the full spray. Is our system protecting us — or industry?
Regulators Don’t Test Commercial Formulations — What That Means for NZ
Most pesticide safety tests ignore the real-world spray. A new study reveals regulators don’t test the full formulation — just the declared ingredient. What does that mean for New Zealand’s food system, public health, and global credibility?
Glyphosate vs Roundup: Why This Distinction Matters — Even Ministers Get It Wrong
We asked why glyphosate‑based weedkillers sold in NZ don’t carry clearer health warnings. The Minister replied — but she answered a different question entirely.
Beyond the Withdrawal: What Comes (and What Doesn’t) After Glyphosate
As Bayer signals a retreat from glyphosate, the scramble to replace it is already underway. But many of the new “solutions” look a lot like old mistakes. Is New Zealand prepared — or just rebranding the same broken system?
“No Health Risk”? What MPI Didn’t Explain About Glyphosate Limits
MPI decided not to raise glyphosate limits on key cereals — but still insists the higher limits would have been “safe.” With glyphosate already showing up in real supermarket foods at today’s levels, we ask: where is the evidence behind that confidence, and what principle is actually guiding these decisions?
How Icafolin Herbicide Works—And Why It’s Not Just Another Glyphosate
Icafolin is being promoted as the “next glyphosate,” but its biology, risks, and real-world impact tell a different story. Here’s what sets it apart—and why it matters for New Zealand.
The Reforms That Never Landed: When Chemical Oversight Became a Policy Missed Opportunity
The PCE made clear recommendations to improve how New Zealand tracks the fate of chemicals — including a national pollutant register and changes to regulatory assessments. Yet those reforms have still not been delivered. This article explores how policy momentum stalled, and why it matters.


