NZ moves to extend controls on xenotransplantation

The NZ government looks likely to extend strict controls on xenotransplantation until at least December 2006 after a bill requiring trials of the technology to be approved by the minister had its first reading in the NZ parliament yesterday.

Without the bill, current tight controls would have been relaxed on June 30, and the normal criteria for clinical trials would have applied.

"It is still only an experimental technique," said NZ Health Minister Annette King. "These controls were introduced in response to concerns about the potential of infections being transmitted and ethical issues."

"Labour's action will not only hold up medical science and research in New Zealand, but also imposes nonsensical hurdles over the biotechnology industry as a whole," said NZ National party's spokesperson, Dr Paul Hutchison.