A year ago the New Zealand Business Roundtable published the ACIL report Agricultural Marketing Regulation: Reality versus Doctrine. Since then its conclusions have been widely debated and there have been developments in each of the five major industries studied.

Most of these changes have, either explicitly or in their practical effect, been deregulatory in nature. Given the potential benefits for New Zealand of a more competitive environment, this is a welcome trend. Only a minority of the changes could be considered backward steps. Moves to partially exempt some producer boards from the Commerce Act come into this category.

There is a rising tide of questioning and deregulatory sentiment in all New Zealand's major agricultural industries. Discussion is becoming more focused on the important issues. Awareness of regulatory costs, and the benefits of competition and choice, is spreading.